A surgery procedure can sometimes be extremely long. This can be extremely taxing for surgeons, especially considering they have to stay completely focused for the entire duration. Distractions during the operation can cause mistakes that in turn can cost human lives.
During a pitching event, organized by Philips, we have suggested utilizing the engagement/drowsiness detection of FOCUS, to aid surgeons during surgery. The engagement level can be combined with a pre-existing aiding system already in place, such as Azurion, to provide the surgeons with extra aid when they are more tired or distracted.
Philips Azurion system. The screen can show more or less information based on engagement
For example an aiding system could start providing checklist, or to-do lists during surgery when engagement is low. It might also suggest that a surgeon has been below a certain engagement level for too long, so that surgeon either has to take a break, or be switched out with another surgeon.
As Philips is currently working on integrating Augmented reality in the Operating Room, we have also suggested a few possibilities on how to integrate it with their envisioned system.
For example have an Engagement meter, which is only visible to the surgeon (with a low opacity, so that it is not distracting).
Using Augmented reality, it would be possible to show where to perform cuts, or place equipment, which could reduce the cognitive workload enormously. The amount of aid provided in this way could also be scaled to how engaged/tired the surgeons are. As they are still professionals in the field, they probably won't need all the guidance in the world when they are fully focused, however, when they become drowsy, some extra help might not be unwelcomed.
There are already companies that combine Augmented reality with EEG devices, an example is a device made by Cognixion
As mentioned earlier, this idea of using Brain computer interfacing in the Operating room was pitched to Philips, winning the second place in the event.
