As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact society and healthcare across Europe and around the world, healthcare teams are forced to work in an even safer & more efficient way, reducing footfall in the Operating Room to a minimum. Thanks to the Surgery Assistance smart glasses, cardiologists and surgeons can perform critical cardiovascular interventions through remote expert support. In this scenario, the operating surgeon is wearing smart glasses, which allows collaborating remotely with a medical product expert who is not present in the OT, but following the procedure remotely. By streaming what the surgeon sees exactly, the product expert literally has the best view in the room, as opposed to 'watching over the surgeon's shoulder' or standing next to him. Moreover, the remote product or technology expert can zoom in on the smallest details and make annotations.
This means that patients will get the very best possible outcome: not only will they have expert cardiologists operating, but technology experts can attend planned or emergency interventions– from a safe distance, without compromising on quality.
The Surgery Assistance software technology was developed by the Amsterdam-based company Rods&Cones. The Iristick smart glasses are equipped with two cameras to give the remote expert an unrestricted, close-up view of the intervention and enable real-time exchange and collaboration.
New service model smart surgery glasses pioneered in Benelux
Thanks to Rods&Cones, technological support during surgeries and procedures will also be possible without the on-site presence of medical device clinical experts. That is why global healthcare solutions company Medtronic announces to start with Surgery Assistance smart glasses in cardiac and vascular units in a selected number of hospitals in the Benelux region. All being successful, the technology will be expanded to similar units across the countries and EMEA region later this year.
“The innovative and at the same time easy-to-use technology makes it possible for cardiologists and surgeons to ‘dial-in’ our clinical product experts,” says Olivia Natens, country director of Medtronic Benelux. ‘Especially in current unprecedented COVID-19 times, it is important that we continue providing technical support and expertise to physicians and patients in the best possible, innovative and most safe way.”
Priority Project
Following a rigorous assessment process, the technology has been put through its paces – passing very stringent patient safety and data security measures. As a result, Rods&Cones is now classified as a Priority Project; which means it has a crucial role in the current pandemic.
Bruno Dheedene, Rods&Cones co-founder, CEO, and veteran medical devices specialist says: “We are thrilled to make this significant step with Medtronic to make remote clinical support an option for surgeons around the world. Perhaps most importantly, we’re delighted we can help healthcare professionals continue their work despite the current COVID-19 restrictions, so that more lives can be saved.”
