The principal topics to be covered include both clinical and technical aspects of the Operating Room of the  Future. Presentations on the state-of-the-art, expected needs, and anticipated technology developments are planned. Most of the workshop discussion will occur within the working groups. A brief summary of the six working groups proposed by the organizing committee is listed below.

 Working group 1: Operational Efficiency and Workflow. Workflow issues are central to the efficiency of the operating room. Issues to be discussed here include: 1) the architecture of the operating suite and room layout; 2) patient preparation and flow of patients; 3) the composition of the operating room team and the types of personnel required; 4) smart scheduling of rooms, patients, and equipment; 5) inventory control and supply management; and 6) which academic disciplines (such as operations research, for example) can contribute to this area.

 Working group 2: Systems Integration and Technical Standards. Systems integration and technical standards are one of the themes of this workshop. This working group will address how advanced technology such as intraoperative imaging, robotics, and telecollaboration can be integrated seamlessly into the operating room. The role of standards, what standards are available, and what standards need to be developed to make this a reality will be discussed. The goal of “plug and play” for medical devices will be considered. The barriers preventing standards from being adopted will also be discussed.

 Working group 3: Telecollaboration. Today’s operating room is isolated and communication is difficult. The future operating room should allow telecollaboration to both local and remote sites. This includes telementoring where an experienced surgeon outside the operating room can advise and assist the surgeon in the operating room. Teleconsultation may also be required, particularly for difficult cases where the advice of a specialist may be sought during the procedure. Finally, telepathology may have a role to play to provide efficient referrals to pathology experts worldwide, even during surgical cases. This working group will address these issues as well as the design of systems to provide these capabilities.

 Working group 4: Robotics and Surgical Instrumentation. Medical robotics has made tremendous strides in recent years and systems have recently been introduced for surgical use such as the da Vinci and Zeus robotic systems. Many experts believe that the Operating Room of the Future will incorporate these devices. This working group will define the capabilities needed, discuss the safety issues and modes of interaction, and consider the integration issues. Other related types of surgical instrumentation will also be considered.

 Working group 5: Intraoperative Diagnosis and Imaging. This working group will address the use of intraoperative imaging including MRI, ultrasound, and image fusion and registration.  The group will also discuss the topics of visualization, image-guided surgery, tracking of instruments, and the role of new modalities such as optical imaging for both diagnosis and therapy.

 Working group 6: Surgical Informatics. This working group will review various computer-based systems that can provide decision support to the surgeon. This includes surgical simulation, biomechanical modeling, and statistical atlases. The engineering technologies and scientific disciplines supporting these areas will also be addressed.