Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Japanese teams use remote robots in surgery on five bowel cancer patients
Doctors at two hospitals in Aomori, Japan, operated on five bowel cancer patients using surgical robots since August.
In each operation, a surgeon at one hospital worked with a doctor who controlled the same robot remotely from another location.
The procedures were the first clinical use in Japan of robotic surgery involving doctors in different locations.
The university and the Japan Surgical Society say the approach could help address shortages and uneven distribution of doctors.
They aim to reduce the need for patients to travel for treatment.
The teams plan to carry out several more operations through March to check the method's safety.
They will then seek regulatory approval for the equipment and national health insurance coverage, with a commercial rollout hoped for in about two years.
Hirosaki University and the Japan Surgical Society said they have used remote-controlled robots in operations on five bowel cancer patients since August.
Doctors at Hirosaki University Hospital and Tsugaru General Hospital in Aomori Prefecture took part in the surgeries.
In each operation, one doctor operated the robot while another doctor at a different location remotely controlled the same robot.
The teams said the project aims to address doctor shortages and regional disparities in surgical care.
They plan more operations through March to check safety before seeking regulatory approval and national health insurance coverage.
- Who
- Hirosaki University and the Japan Surgical Society, with doctors at Hirosaki University Hospital and Tsugaru General Hospital.
- What
- They performed remote robotic surgeries on five patients with bowel cancer.
- When
- Since August; the announcement was made Wednesday.
- Where
- At Hirosaki University Hospital and Tsugaru General Hospital in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
- Why
- To address doctor shortages and regional disparities in surgical treatment, and reduce patients’ travel burden.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The teams began performing remote robotic surgeries on bowel cancer patients.
Hirosaki University and the Japan Surgical Society announced that five patients had undergone the surgeries.
The teams plan to perform several more surgeries to verify the method’s safety.
- Patients
- 5 bowel cancer patients
- Hospitals
- Hirosaki University Hospital and Tsugaru General Hospital
- Prefecture
- Aomori
- Robot
- hinotori, developed by Medicaroid Corp.
- Further trials
- Several more surgeries are planned through March
What people are saying
Our primary goal is to eliminate regional disparities in surgical treatment
the society hopes for a commercial rollout of remote robotic surgery in about two years