This project is about devising and implementing a smart operating room environment, powered by trustable, human-understanding artificial intelligence, able to continually adapt and learn the best way to optimise safety, efficacy, teamwork, economy, and clinical outcomes.
We call this concept MAESTRO.
A fitting analogy for MAESTRO is that of an orchestra conductor, a 'maestro', who oversees, overhears and directs a group of people on a common task, towards a common goal: a masterful musical performance. Although the music score is identical for all orchestras, there is no doubt that they all perform it in different ways and some significantly better than others. Although the quality and personality of orchestra musicians is very important, it is widely accepted that the role of the maestro is crucial, and extends beyond the duration of the musical performance to rehearsals and understanding of the context behind the music score.
Thus, while it is possible for orchestras to perform without conductors, most cannot function without one.
Our proposed MAESTRO AI-powered operating room of the future rotates around four key elements:
(a) The holistic sensing of patient, staff, operating room environment and equipment through an array of diverse sensor devices.
(b) Artificial intelligence focused on humans (human-centric), able to continually understand situations and actions developing in the operating room, and of intervening when necessary.
(c) The use of advanced human-machine user interfaces for augmenting task performance.
(d) A secure device interconnectivity platform, allowing the full integration of all above key elements.
As in our orchestra analogy, our envisioned MAESTRO directs the OR staff and surgical devices before, during and after a surgical procedure by:
(1) Sensing surgical procedures in all their aspects, including those which are currently neglected such as the physiological responses of staff (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, pupil dilation), focus of attention, brain activity, as well as harmful events that may escape the attention of the clinical team.
(2) Overseeing individual and team performance in real-time, throughout the operation and across different types of surgeries and different teams.
(3) Guiding and assisting the surgical team via automated checkpoints, virtual and augmented visualisations, warnings, individualised and broadcasted alerts, automation, semi-automation, robotics, and other aids and factors that can affect performance in the operating room.
(4) Augmenting and optimising individual and collective operational capabilities, skills, and task ergonomics, through novel human-machine interaction and interfacing modalities.
The project is designed to have a significant societal, economic and technological impact, and to establish the NHS as a leading healthcare paradigm worldwide. MAESTRO leverages the expertise of top researchers in the areas of robotics, sensing, artificial intelligence, human factors, health policies and patient safety. It is co-designed in collaboration with top clinicians, one of the largest NHS Trusts in England, patient groups, performing artists, and several small and medium-sized enterprises and large multinational industries operating in the areas of artificial intelligence, medical devices, digital health, large networks, cloud services, cyber security.
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