Robotics speeds connectivity between medical professionals

French robotic platform developers Robocath, specialising in solutions for treating cardiovascular diseases were pivotal to a medical procedure carried out simultaneously in Bejing and Urumqi 1,700 miles (2,800km) away. Two interventional cardiologists, Professor Yundai Chen in Beijing and Professor Yining Yang in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, performed the First-in-Human robotic coronary angioplasty entirely using a 5G connection with the R-One™ robotic platform.

“I feel honoured to have been part of this world-first-in-human procedure in the field of interventional medicine. Its success opens up the possibility of future long-distance cardiovascular treatment options. China currently has over 2,000 catheterisation laboratories, but that’s still not enough to cover the whole country. With the help of robotics, we believe we can treat more patients faster and more effectively. Another advantage is that the robot can position the stent with exceptional accuracy. I’m excited to continue this partnership, which I believe marks the start of a new era for treatment in our field,” said Professor Yundai Chen.

“This procedure shows the world the feasibility and safety of coronary angioplasty at very great distances, thanks to a perfectly stable and controlled communication system. The team at the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is extremely proud to have played a part in this phenomenal technological achievement, which has the potential to revolutionise interventional medicine,” added Professor Yining Yang.

“At Robocath, we are committed to developing smart connected robotic platforms that improve the treatment of cardiovascular diseases – the leading cause of death worldwide. Currently, these emergencies, including stroke, can remain untreated within a reasonable timeframe due to geographical remoteness and the small number of dedicated care centres. Robotic solutions remove these barriers entirely and ensure patients are treated quickly and to a very high standard by medical experts. From a specialist medical centre, physicians will be able to perform operations on patients located in outlying emergency units. There are still several challenges to face before this type of treatment can be widely adopted, particularly in terms of organisation and legal liability. However, we are convinced that the future of interventional medicine lies with robotics. Its remote connection module will considerably accelerate expansion, particularly in vast territories such as China,” stated company CEO Lucien Goffart.

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