Virtual Incision Corporation, the developer of the MIRA Surgical System, the world’s first miniaturised robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) device, has successfully completed a preclinical demonstration of remote surgery in partnership with Sovato Health.

Sovato provides the only comprehensive solution for enabling remote surgery and procedure programmes. During the test, four surgeons conducted a total of 20 procedures on porcine models, covering a combined distance of nearly 40,000 miles. This represents roughly 2,000 miles for each procedure.

The surgeries included cholecystectomy, colectomy, gastric mobilization/gastrostomy/primary closure, and nephrectomy, and were carried out using the combined technologies of Virtual Incision and Sovato. The surgeons operated from Santa Barbara, California, while the porcine models were in Chicago, Illinois. The Sovato Platform provided the necessary surgical-grade network connectivity, clinical workflows, and immersive audio-visual tools for effective communication between the teams during the procedures.

The demonstration showcased the potential of remote surgery to overcome the challenge of providing quality surgical care to the more than half of the global population who currently lack access, including 83 million Americans who must travel for routine procedures.

The MIRA system, the first miniaturised RAS device in development, is about 1,000 times lighter than traditional RAS technologies, making remote surgery more feasible by enabling easy transportation, storage, and faster setup at locations where robotic systems are not typically available.

The success of this remote surgery demonstration highlights the potential of miniaturisation to expand access to robotic-assisted surgery. By enabling surgeons to operate remotely, this technology can allow more patients to benefit from high-quality surgical care, even if they live far from specialist facilities.

The results also illustrate how the Sovato Platform’s low-latency, high-quality connectivity supports effective person-to-person communication, enabling the successful completion of complex procedures from a distance. This system restored situational awareness and ensured clear communication throughout the surgeries.

This breakthrough in remote surgery has the potential to transform healthcare by making specialised care accessible to more people worldwide. Remote surgery could also enhance training opportunities and extend the expertise of top surgeons, making high-quality care available to patients in different locations, whether within a country or across international borders.



Source: businesswire.com

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