Emerging Technology in Surgical Education: Combining Real-Time Augmented Reality and Wearable Computing Devices

Abstract

The authors describe the first surgical case adopting the combination of real-time augmented reality and wearable computing devices such as Google Glass (Google Inc, Mountain View, California). A 66-year-old man presented to their institution for a total shoulder replacement after 5 years of progressive right shoulder pain and decreased range of motion. Throughout the surgical procedure, Google Glass was integrated with the Virtual Interactive Presence and Augmented Reality system (University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama), enabling the local surgeon to interact with the remote surgeon within the local surgical field. Surgery was well tolerated by the patient and early surgical results were encouraging, with an improvement of shoulder pain and greater range of motion. The combination of real-time augmented reality and wearable computing devices such as Google Glass holds much promise in the field of surgery.

Wearable technology: using Google Glass as a teaching tool

“…Studies have reported success in orthopaedic shoulder surgery3 and in training people to acquire simple views during cardiac ultrasonography 4. There are some limitations—a study reported limitations regarding the camera resolution of Google Glass in some scenarios of ECG interpretation 5.…”

Augmented Reality in Medical Education and Training

“…Using the Virtual Interactive Presence and Augmented Reality (VIPAAR) system, developed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the local surgeon wore Google glass which allowed the remote surgeon to view the procedure and simultaneously allow the local surgeon to see the virtual interaction from the remote surgeon. 4 The report concluded that the surgery resulted in no complications and illustrates a new and potentially valuable tool in providing additional support for complex procedures and high-risk surgeries. With telemedicine becoming more and more popular, this use of AR shows a promising new development in telemedicine.…”

Potential uses of wearable technology in medicine: lessons learnt from Google Glass

“…Glass has many potential uses within the operative environment including the ability to record a series of videos of operative procedures. The ability to display relevant radiological imaging or other patient monitoring parameters in the surgeon's field of view allows increased situational awareness and focus on core tasks . Glass also opens up the potential use of augmented reality to intraoperatively highlight key pathological/anatomical structures .…”