As surgical procedures grow more complex and specialized, the need for effective, scalable training is more important than ever. Traditional approaches, like in-person observation or classroom-based instruction, have their place, but they come with clear limitations: limited access, high travel costs, and scheduling conflicts.
So how can hospitals and healthcare professionals provide hands-on learning without always needing to be in the same room?
More and more institutions are turning to hands-free smart glasses as a practical solution for live surgical training.
Why Hands-Free Smart Glasses Are Changing Surgical Education
Surgical training isn’t just about theory, it’s about timing, repetition, and real-world practice. The advantage of using smart glasses is that they give students, junior surgeons, or remote mentors a direct, real-time view from the eyes of the operator, without disrupting workflow.
Whether in a training lab or a live operating room, smart glasses enable:
• Live streaming from the surgeon’s point of view
• Remote guidance and mentorship
• Bidirectional communication between instructor and learner
• Hands-free interaction, ideal in sterile environments
Instead of waiting for limited OR access or flying mentors around the country, institutions can now scale training with real-time visibility.
Real Benefits for Learners and Educators
Here’s how surgical teams are using smart glasses for training today:
• Immersive learning: Trainees see exactly what the lead surgeon sees, in real time, from incision to closure.
• Real-time feedback: Remote proctors and instructors can observe and comment live during procedures, helping learners improve immediately.
• Flexible observation: One expert can support multiple learners across hospitals, without leaving their office or country.
• Reduced travel and logistics: Organizing on-site mentoring can be costly and complex. Smart glasses simplify that process, saving time and money.
• Recording for later review: Sessions can be saved for feedback, internal training, or even certification purposes.
What Rods&Cones Offers for Surgical Training
Rods&Cones provides a complete solution for remote surgical collaboration and training. It enables real-time audio-visual connection between the OR and remote experts, all through a secure, hospital-compliant platform.
It includes:
• Wearable smart glasses for the operator
• Live view and communication tools for the remote trainer
• Annotation features to highlight key anatomy or steps
• No IT complexity, just a simple setup that works within sterile fields
Whether you’re running a training course, onboarding a new team member, or building a global surgical education program, Rods&Cones helps you deliver impactful learning, remotely.
Want to See It in Action?
Rods&Cones is already used in training labs, cadaver courses, and live OR education programs around the world.
