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. 2014 Sep 19:1:39.
doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2014.00039. eCollection 2014.

The application of wearable technology in surgery: ensuring the positive impact of the wearable revolution on surgical patients

Jesse Alan Slade Shantz  1 , Christian J H Veillette  2
Affiliations

The application of wearable technology in surgery: ensuring the positive impact of the wearable revolution on surgical patients

Jesse Alan Slade Shantz et al. Front Surg. .

Abstract

Wearable technology has become an important trend in consumer electronics in the past year. The miniaturization and mass production of myriad sensors have made possible the integration of sensors and output devices in wearable platforms. Despite the consumer focus of the wearable revolution some surgical applications are being developed. These fall into augmentative, assistive, and assessment functions and primarily layer onto current surgical workflows. Some challenges to the adoption of wearable technologies are discussed and a conceptual framework for understanding the potential of wearable technology to revolutionize surgical practice are presented.

Keywords: augmented reality; computer-assisted; outcome assessment (health care); surgery; wearable devices; wearable technology.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Wearable technology functions within surgical practice.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A conception of wearable device developer strategies and the potential benefits for surgeons and surgical patients. Disruptive innovation will likely occur at the junction between medical device and consumer electronics.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The characteristics of innovations based on the intended customer. Consumer- and hospital system-focused wearable technologies may appear in surgical practice by a push mechanism.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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