Chen Yunfeng, chief orthopedist at Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, wore Google Glass while carrying out an internal fixation surgery for comminuted fracture of distal radius on a 55-year-old patient on Aug. 13. The device allowed surgeons in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe and many other regions of the world to view the surgery from a first-person perspective in real time through their laptop or handheld device, reports the Shanghai Morning Post.
“The device is as light as a pair of frameless, ultra-thin glasses even with a powerful processor attached,” Chen said. Sending out image data around the world is as simple as pressing a button on the glasses to activate the camera. The videos are then uploaded onto cloud storage available for access with Wi-Fi around the world.
“The video transmission rendered clear image of pieces of shattered bone and apparent malposition,” said Zhang Changqin, vice director of the hospital. He was one of the many doctors viewing the operation live.
Broadcasting operations using traditional means requires tons of organization and preparation to ensure the camera and crew have enough space and meet surgical hygiene standards, said professor Chai Yimin, director of the hospital’s department of orthopedics. Even in integrated operation rooms with all the necessary equipment and technology, “the doctor’s operating skill cannot be fully observed due to restrictions in shooting angles.”
