ULS São João in Porto used surgical helmets with integrated cameras and augmented reality glasses during a robotic spine operation, sharing the procedure live with healthcare professionals at ULS Nordeste in Macedo de Cavaleiros. The connection supported a training session in a new surgical technique, bringing the surgeon’s view to a team approximately 170 kilometres away.
According to NOS, augmented reality in the helmet visor allowed the surgeon to reference and visualise anatomical points, functioning as an intraoperative navigation system. The operation combined robotic surgery with 3D visualisation and navigation. Cameras captured images from the surgeon’s perspective, while NOS’s 5G mobile network carried the live transmission between the hospitals. ULS Nordeste staff followed the intervention and could interact directly with the surgeon.
4LifeLAB developed the surgical helmets. NOS described the intervention as the first use of these helmets to transmit a surgery live between two hospitals. The project brought together ULS São João’s surgical team, 4LifeLAB’s helmet technology, NOS connectivity and ULS Nordeste’s remote participants to support knowledge sharing across the healthcare network.
