Remote surgery, also known as telesurgery, is revolutionising patient care by minimising the risk of errors and infections that can result from contaminated environments. Many hospitals are now conducting remote surgeries, and research in this field is expanding globally. A significant development in this area comes from a joint study between scientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and ETH Zurich.
In this groundbreaking experiment, surgeons successfully performed an endoscopy on a pig located 9,300 km away in Hong Kong, using a standard game controller. Various procedures, such as colonoscopies, have already been conducted remotely, with doctors overseeing the procedures through live camera feeds without being physically present.
This study pushed the boundaries of remote surgery by using a robotic system and a magnetic endoscope in Hong Kong, which was controlled in real-time using the WebSocket protocol. The surgeon, based in Switzerland, observed the live video feed from the camera and guided the robot remotely, issuing commands through a game controller.
The robotic system used for the procedure contained magnets of the same length inside, which could be controlled by an external magnetic field. In this case, the surgeon in Zurich directed the movement of the endoscope inside the pig using a PlayStation 3 controller. Other studies have also used PlayStation 5 controllers for similar purposes.
The experiment was conducted on a sedated pig, where the scientist was able to navigate the endoscope with ease, making U-turns and even collecting biopsy samples from the inner lining of the stomach wall. The system's latency was less than 300 milliseconds, which was quick enough for the surgeon to respond in real time, ensuring a smooth and controlled procedure.
The results of this study suggest that remote surgery can be successfully performed on humans in the near future. Robots are already being integrated into precise surgeries, particularly in sensitive areas like the heart and eyes. However, the main goal of this technology is to provide surgical care to people in rural or remote areas, where access to skilled doctors may be limited. This technology could make life-saving surgeries and treatments accessible without the need for a doctor to be physically present. Another exciting potential use for this technology is in space exploration, where astronauts may require medical procedures while in space.
The findings of this study were published in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems.
Success of this experiment shows remote surgeries could soon be done in humans. Robots are already lending surgeons a fine-tuned hand, especially in delicate organs like hearts and eyes.
Research Team
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