In modern operating rooms, technology continues to evolve, but human expertise remains essential. To explore how that expertise can be present instantly in the OR, Marketing Director Inés Pérez Roggero sat down with Bruno Dheedene, CEO and Founder of Rods&Cones, for a conversation about the vision behind cORe.
This interview highlights why cORe was created, how it supports surgical teams, and why presence and human connection still matter.
Conversation with Inés and Bruno:
Inés (I):
We are here today at UMC Utrecht in the Netherlands. Bruno, what makes human expertise in the OR so important?
Bruno (B):
It is a lot about confidence and trust. As an operator, you want to know that if you have a question, the expert is right there with you. It is all about presence.
I:
In a world where so many things are replaced by technology, can presence really be replaced?
B:
We do not believe the expertise itself can be replaced. Surgery is very human. When someone is in the room, they bring additional knowledge that supports the procedure. But being in the room does not always have to be physical. Technology can bring that person into the OR when needed.
I:
This becomes even more relevant for industry experts who often spend hours traveling for very short moments of support.
B:
Exactly. A technical consultant might be needed for only a few minutes, yet the travel time can take hours. And in many orthopedic procedures, the room is closed for sterility, meaning the rep must remain inside for the full duration of the case. With cORe, they can join only when needed and step out immediately after.
I:
So that is why cORe was created.
B:
Yes. We wanted experts to be present in the OR remotely. The surgical team receives the same support, and the remote expert can be available to more customers in a single day. As a former rep, I would have loved this technology. It would have allowed me to be in more places at once.
I:
And the experience has to feel natural for everyone.
B:
When technology is done well, you do not notice it. We have worked very hard to make the technology invisible. You open cORe like a tablet, press a name, and that is it. The remote person controls everything. The camera sits at human eye height, so it feels like looking through your own eyes.
I:
Let us connect this back to your original vision. How did this belief in human connection influence the design?
B:
I wanted something that feels like a person in the room. That idea shaped the human form factor of cORe. It replaces physical presence but still delivers a clear view, excellent sound, and a sense of being there. It has five hours of autonomy, so you roll it in and press a button.
I:
cORe looks simple from the outside, but there is a lot behind it.
B:
Yes. It includes the full Rods&Cones software platform. It integrates with all our solutions. The challenge was to make something powerful but intuitive, so adoption is easy. That is where the real development effort has gone.
I:
And there is a strong human focus behind this.
B:
Always. Surgical telepresence is what we do. We focus on people and how to help them scale their knowledge, travel less, and close the distance between teams who need to communicate in sterile environments. Knowledge has to travel. With our technology, knowledge can travel at the speed of light.
Watch the full interview: The Story Behind cORe 👇
This conversation between Inés and Bruno shows how cORe brings human expertise into the OR while reducing the limitations of distance, time, and logistics. By making remote presence simple and intuitive, cORe helps surgical teams access the guidance they need exactly when they need it.
Want to See cORe in Action?
Rods&Cones’ newest solution is already helping hospitals simplify connections and enhance remote collaboration.
