Xiong'an New Area/Beijing, Recently — In a groundbreaking medical endeavor, the team led by Director Liu Rong from the Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Medical Department of Chinese PLA General Hospital successfully completed a remote surgery utilizing low-orbit satellite communication technology. The surgery was conducted inside a mobile surgical unit in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province, while the patient was located hundreds of kilometers away at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing.
Traditionally, remote surgeries relied heavily on geosynchronous satellites orbiting 36,000 kilometers above Earth, resulting in significant signal transmission delays that limited the complexity and safety of such procedures. Director Liu Rong's team switched to low-orbit satellites, which orbit Earth at distances ranging from 160 to 2,000 kilometers, significantly reducing signal transmission time and achieving near-instantaneous interaction.
During the surgery, Director Liu Rong precisely controlled the surgical robot in Beijing via a mechanical arm in Xiong'an New Area, performing smooth and intricate operations. This "air-space-ground coordinated" surgical model not only enhanced the real-time nature and accuracy of the surgery but also marked a significant advancement in remote medical technology.
The application of low-orbit satellite technology is not limited to its speed advantages. Its independence from ground infrastructure, resilience to geological disasters, and lack of geographical and temporal constraints make medical assistance possible in remote areas and complex environments. This technology is poised to significantly promote the balanced distribution of high-quality medical resources and facilitate regional medical collaboration and development.
Director Liu Rong's team has accumulated rich experience in the field of remote surgery, including 5G remote surgery animal experiments and ultra-remote surgeries based on high-orbit communication satellites. The success of this low-orbit satellite remote surgery once again validates the effectiveness and safety of combining China's self-developed communication technology with robotic surgical systems, demonstrating China's leading position in medical technology innovation.
Looking ahead, with the continuous promotion of this technology, more patients are expected to access top medical experts across geographical boundaries, realizing universal access to medical technology.