Tokyo (ANTARA) \u2014 Hirosaki University and the Japan Surgical Society\nsaid on Wednesday that they had performed operations on five patients\nwith colorectal cancer using remotely controlled robots since\nAugust.<\/p>\n
The operations were successfully carried out by doctors from Hirosaki\nUniversity Hospital and Tsugaru General Hospital. Both are in Aomori\nPrefecture, north-eastern Japan.<\/p>\n
The initiative aims to address a shortage of doctors and the uneven\ngeographical distribution of medical personnel.<\/p>\n
In each operation, a doctor operating a surgical robot called\nhinotori, developed by Japanese company Medicaroid Corp., was assisted\nby another doctor remotely controlling the same robot from a different\nlocation.<\/p>\n
Hirosaki University and the Japan Surgical Society said the\nprocedures were Japan\u2019s first clinical application of robotic surgery\ninvolving doctors at separate locations.<\/p>\n
They plan to conduct several more operations using the same method by\nMarch to establish its safety before seeking regulatory approval for the\nequipment required and coverage under the national health insurance\nprogramme.<\/p>\n
Masaki Mori, a Tokai University professor and chair of the Japan\nSurgical Society\u2019s committee promoting remote surgery, said at a press\nconference at Hirosaki University that the main goal was to eliminate\nregional disparities in access to surgical care.<\/p>\n
He added that the society hoped remote robotic surgery could be\nintroduced commercially in about two years.<\/p>\n
The university and the society aim to expand access to remote surgery\nacross Japan so patients do not have to pay additional costs or face\ndifficult journeys to receive treatment.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japanese-university-and-surgical-association-perform-remote-robotic-operations-1792000250", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }