Revolutionizing Surgery : India Leads the Way in Robotic Telesurgeries with SSI Mantra
Context:
India has reached a major milestone in healthcare technology with the successful completion of robotic telesurgeries using SSI Mantra, an indigenous robotic system. This advanced technology allows remote surgery with minimal delay, achieving an incredible latency of just 40 milliseconds. With telesurgery, surgeons can perform surgeries from anywhere using robots and high-speed data connections, which is a significant breakthrough in medical technology.
About SSI Mantra: India’s Indigenous Surgical Robotic System
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What is SSI Mantra?
- SSI Mantra is an advanced surgical robotic system created by SS Innovations to perform complex surgeries, including telesurgeries.
- First in the world: It is the only robotic system globally to be approved for telesurgery and tele-proctoring by India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
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Key Features of SSI Mantra:
- Ultra-low latency: It has an amazing speed of 35-40 milliseconds, making it possible to perform surgeries remotely without delay.
- It is capable of performing high-precision surgeries, including Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB), one of the most complex cardiac surgeries.
- Regulatory approval: SSI Mantra is the first robotic system to receive official approval for telesurgery and tele-proctoring.
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How It Works:
- Remote control: Robotic arms are controlled remotely by surgeons over a secure, high-speed network.
- Real-time operations: This technology allows for precise and accurate remote surgeries with little to no delay.
- It also supports tele-proctoring, where experienced surgeons can mentor other surgeons remotely during surgeries.
Global Significance and Benefits of SSI Mantra
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Bridging Healthcare Gaps:
- Telesurgery helps provide access to expert medical care in remote or underserved areas, where specialized healthcare services may be limited.
- This innovation helps eliminate geographic barriers, making world-class surgeries available to people in distant regions.
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Better Patient Outcomes:
- By using minimally invasive techniques, surgeries result in faster recovery, fewer complications, and improved patient outcomes.
- Remote surgeries mean patients do not need to travel long distances, which reduces physical strain and speeds up recovery.
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Impact on India’s Healthcare System:
- SSI Mantra helps address healthcare disparities, especially in rural areas, where access to top-tier medical care has traditionally been challenging.
- It offers a cost-effective solution for improving healthcare access across India.
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Global Potential:
- The remote surgery capabilities of SSI Mantra make it a scalable solution, meaning it can be adopted globally, especially in countries with limited access to skilled medical professionals.
- It also opens new doors for surgical education, allowing remote mentoring of surgeons.
Other Key Applications of Robotics in Healthcare
Besides telesurgery, robotics is transforming various areas in healthcare, including:
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Safety & Monitoring Robots:
- Telepresence robots use computer vision to monitor patients' vital signs and health conditions in real-time, helping healthcare staff keep a close watch on patients.
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Robotic Prosthetics:
- Advanced robotic prosthetics (like robotic limbs and exoskeletons) are helping amputees regain mobility and functionality, improving quality of life.
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Sanitation and Disinfection Robots:
- Sanitation robots use UV-C light or hydrogen peroxide vapour to disinfect hospital rooms, helping maintain a clean and safe environment.
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Medical Transportation Robots:
- Medical robots are being used to deliver supplies, medications, and meals to patients, increasing hospital efficiency and reducing the need for human intervention.
Challenges in Robotics for Healthcare
While robotics offers significant benefits, there are challenges to overcome:
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High Initial Cost:
- The cost of robotic systems like SSI Mantra can be expensive, which may make it hard for some healthcare institutions to adopt.
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Training and Skill Gaps:
- Operating these advanced robotic systems requires specialized skills. There is a need for training programs to ensure healthcare professionals can effectively use this technology.
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Ethical Concerns:
- With remote surgeries, it’s not clear who is responsible if something goes wrong. Accountability becomes a key concern, especially when errors happen during telesurgery.
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Patient Trust:
- Patients may have concerns about having surgery performed remotely. Gaining trust in robotic systems and remote operations is essential for widespread acceptance.
Indian Initiatives to Promote Robotics in Healthcare
India is actively supporting robotics in healthcare through several initiatives:
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National Health Policy, 2017:
- The policy emphasizes the role of technology in healthcare, recognizing the potential of robotics in improving medical services.
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Draft National Strategy on Robotics (2023):
- This strategy promotes robotics, including in healthcare, and plans to establish a Robotics Innovation Unit (RIU) to drive innovation.
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Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK):
- Located at IISc Bengaluru, ARTPARK is dedicated to the development of AI and robotics solutions, including those aimed at improving healthcare.
Conclusion
India’s successful robotic telesurgeries using SSI Mantra marks a transformative moment in healthcare. This indigenous technology not only allows remote surgeries with high precision but also helps bridge the gap in healthcare access, particularly in remote areas. While telesurgery has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, addressing challenges such as costs, training, and patient trust will be crucial for its widespread adoption. As SSI Mantra continues to gain global recognition, it could set the standard for remote surgery worldwide, creating new possibilities for healthcare innovation.
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