QINGDAO: A Chinese medical team has performed a remote radical cystectomy on a patient 3,000 kilometers away with the help of a domestically-developed surgical robot using 5G.
Professor Niu Haitao with the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University in east China’s Shandong Province successfully completed the laparoscopic radical cystectomy by operating China’s newest-generation surgical robot Micro Hand’s master console to control its arms in the operating room in the Xixiu District People’s Hospital in Anshun in Guizhou Province of southwest China.
The robot accurately repeated the doctor’s movements, removing the lesions in the targeted area. At the same time, the application of holographic projection technology enabled Professor Niu to interact with the patient and medical staff with almost no time lag.
The patient was diagnosed with bladder cancer three months ago and was in dire need of surgery after the condition suddenly exacerbated.
The entire operation was carried out smoothly with no apparent bleeding or other complications.
Long-distance surgery with the surgical robot using 5G network can help patients save time and expenses on travel and accommodation, and improve health care in China’s remote areas.
Meanwhile, China has built over 500,000 5G base stations during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), as the country continues the rapid construction of its 5G network.
With the number of 5G users on the rise, the number of connected devices on the network has exceeded 100 million, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
“Nowadays 5G applications in China are continuously enriched, covering the industrial sector and industries including medical treatment, media, transportation and more,” said Li Ying, an official with the MIIT.–Agencies
