Surgeon Uses Google Glass and iPad To Capture Live Procedure and Stream It

MojoKid writes "Google (and many other tech manufacturers lately), have been evangelizing the mantra that technology is here to enhance and improve our lives, not get in the way; in the truest sense to 'serve humanity.' Recent events and breakthroughs in the healthcare industry, which make use of leading-edge technology, illustrate this vision better than any marketing or ad campaign could ever possibly hope to. Dr. Rafael Grossman strapped on his Google Glass eyewear to become the first 'Glass Explorer Surgeon.' The procedure involved is called Gastrostomy, a process by which a surgeon inserts a feeding tube into a patient's abdomen. In this case, the good doctor performed the procedure endoscopically, such that he was able to display the entire procedure and the view of it directly as it was being performed. The opportunities for remote medical consultation, mentoring and even real-time guidance are obvious with the sort of technology that products like Google Glass bring to the table. It's always nice to hear stories of how not only 'quality of life' is improved but how lives are actually saved as a result of these magnificent inventions we create."

Not new

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh wow, Google has invented a category of medical device that's existed for years!

There is nothing particularly innovative about "wearing a head-mounted camera during surgery" - surgeons have done it for years now.

The only thing "newsworthy" about this is that the "Google brand device" was used to do it.

Can't wait to see everybody slag off Google for claiming to have invented something that's been around for years, like they do Apple!

A brief response to the naysayers

[davesays]

Disclaimer: I do not believe technology is the best answer for everything. I am the most adventurous person in my hospital IT Department so I get to go in ORs all the time (I was there yesterday). 1 - No code review: the devices are not "part of" the surgery they are peripheral; they do not code review every digital clock, cell phone in a surgical staff's pocket, or every iPod playing music en-suite. 2 - No distraction: I can tell you these people are serious professionals. The doctor was no more distracted by the tech during the operation than a coder would be by his dormant webcam or an email message coming in. Regards, Dave