Google Glass could be moving into the operating room, offering surgeons a heads-up display with patient vital signs and other information.

Royal Philips and Accenture today announced the creation of a proof-of-concept demonstration that uses a Google Glass head-mounted display for researching ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of performing surgical procedures. The demonstration connects Google Glass to Philips IntelliVue Solutions and the companies say proves the concept of seamless transfer of patient vital signs into Google Glass, potentially providing physicians with hands-free access to critical clinical information.

Michael Mancuso, CEO of patient care and clinical informatics at Philips Healthcare, said the research explores how doctors can achieve better access to the right information at the right time. 

“It’s a first step in researching how existing technologies can be applied to improve the quality of life of patients,” Mancuso said. 

Aside from the possibility of operating in a hands-free environment, the Google Glass IntelliVue Solution research effort was developed to explore how to enhance a clinician’s mobility by allowing the seamless transfer of patient information while on the go. 

The companies say that further research may indicate how to possibly enable clinicians to keep their focus on the patient while simultaneously obtaining a live view of critical patient monitoring data.