Dr. Teodor Grantcharov, a Toronto-based surgeon and professor, has developed a "black box" system for operating rooms, similar to the flight data recorders used in aviation. This innovative technology captures every aspect of a surgery, including audio, video, room conditions, and patient data, providing a comprehensive record that can be analyzed later to improve surgical performance and patient safety. The OR Black Box® records even minor deviations from ideal conditions, allowing surgeons and medical teams to review their actions, identify errors, and refine techniques.

Dr. Grantcharov emphasizes that the goal is not to assign blame but to enhance learning, as the operating room is a high-risk, high-performance environment where continuous improvement is essential. The OR Black Box could also be used after a major adverse event to determine whether errors were due to human factors, equipment malfunctions, or other issues, much like the use of black boxes in aviation to investigate accidents. After successful pilot trials, Dr. Grantcharov plans further testing and hopes the technology will eventually become standard in operating rooms worldwide.