Google Glass: eyeing the doctor’s world

New technology helps transmit images of what a surgeon views while performing surgery

HYDERABAD,22/03/2013:Managing Director and CEO of Sunshine Hospitals, Dr. Gurava Reddy, introduces for the first time in India, the rapid recovery protocol for knee replacement, Which will be shared with 100 Ortho surgeons in Gujarat by using google glass communication system, a unique innovative modality, in Hyderabad on Saturday.
--PHOTO:NAGARA GOPAL

A.V. Guruva Reddy paused briefly in the operation theatre before giving a voice command to the device. “Okay glass, take a video.” A few seconds later, he issued another command.

“Okay glass, transmit the video.” With this, the Google Glass started beaming live videos of the knee replacement surgery from an operation theatre in Hyderabad to a group of surgeons sitting in Vapi, Gujarat.

Same commands were repeated but this time with pictures. “Okay glass, take a picture.” After a brief spell, he said, “Okay glass, transmit the picture.” Immediately, the pictures were transferred to the group of doctors in Gujarat.

“It definitely has tremendous potential in medicine,” says Dr. Reddy, MD and CEO of Sunshine Hospitals, after using Google Glass.

Google Glass, the prototype of the wearable technology being developed by internet giant Google, can transmit exact images of what the surgeon is looking at while performing the surgery. “The doctors sitting out there were able to see objects in my line of vision, which was never possible earlier,” he says.

Can summon medical history

This is not all! In the middle of the surgery, Google Glass also has the capability to summon medical history and other diagnostic records of the patient like an MRI or X-ray. “Half your work is done if you have an assistant like this one. The best part is that doctors in remote locations can clearly see the deep blood vessels and other anatomical characteristics likse the surgeon. So, it becomes an interactive and collaborative process with doctors from other parts giving their own insights while the surgery is on,” he says.

Google Glass exactly fits like a frame of an eyeglass with a camera attached to it on the right side. An upward tilt of head is all it takes to light up the screen located on the right side. Isn’t it a hindrance while performing a surgery? “I did not face any such problem. On the other hand, it is far safer because now there is no need to bring big video cameras inside the operation theatre to beam live images. It reduces the chances of infection,” adds Dr. Reddy.