
From France to Indore: Surgery performed across 10,000 km using Indian robot system
The surgeries linked teams at the Institut de recherche contre les cancers de l'appareil digestif (IRCAD) headquarters in Strasbourg with operation theatres at the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS) and the IRCAD National Centre in Indore. Both procedures were conducted using the SSI Mantra surgical robotic system, which has been developed in India by SS Innovations International, approved by India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for both tele-proctoring and telesurgery.According to the medical teams involved, the system allowed surgeons in France to carry out the procedures with minimal delay or disruption, using robotic arms controlled remotely.The gastric bypass, a weight-loss surgery, was conducted by Dr. Mohit Bhandari, President of IRCAD India, and reportedly took just over 44 minutes with no complications."Performing a complex gastric bypass remotely, across continents, marks a transformative moment in surgical science. It's not just about technological capability; it's about bridging gaps in access to quality healthcare. The success of the SSI Mantra system proves that the future of safe, precise, and inclusive surgery is here, and it's being shaped in India," said Dr. Mohit Bhandari. The second procedure, the ASD closure, was performed by Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Chairman of SS Innovations, with the support of cardiologists and anaesthesiologists based in Indore.Though the technology of robotic-assisted surgery has been used for over two decades, what distinguishes this instance is the scale and distance of the operation.Conducting complex surgeries across 10,000 km, in real-time, without latency issues, is a test of both the system's technical reliability and the infrastructure supporting it, especially internet bandwidth and stability.On-ground teams in Indore provided surgical support and managing patient safety. According to SS Innovations, the robotic system has been used in over 5,000 surgeries across specialties, including 35 telesurgeries and 250 cardiac procedures. The company says no device-related complications have been reported so far.While robotic telesurgery is not new globally, its application in intercontinental procedures is still rare. The ability to safely perform surgeries remotely could have implications for improving access to specialised care, particularly in regions where expert surgical teams are not easily available.India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved the SSI Mantra system for both telesurgery and remote training, making it one of the few systems in the country with such clearance.advertisementWHAT IS A ROBOTIC SURGERY? Robotic surgery is a type of operation where doctors use a machine with robotic arms to carry out surgical tasks.The surgeon controls the robot using a computer and hand-held tools, guiding the robotic arms with great precision.The robot does not work on its own, it follows the doctor's exact movements. This kind of surgery can help doctors perform complex operations through small cuts, with more accuracy and control than traditional methods.As more data becomes available, the long-term clinical outcomes of such procedures will determine how widely this model can be adopted.- Ends
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Late Bhanutai Gadkari Memorial Diagnostic Centre inaugurated: MRI at Rs1,200, CT Scan at Rs800, X-ray at Rs100
Nagpur: A state-of-the-art 6,000 sq ft facility in north Nagpur will be offering essential diagnostic and dialysis services at some of the lowest rates in the country — MRI for Rs1,200, CT Scan for Rs800, and digital X-ray for just Rs100, and major blood tests at Rs300, which otherwise cost thousands. Remarkably, it is India's first diagnostic centre equipped entirely with "Made-in-India" machines. The late Bhanutai Gadkari Memorial Diagnostic Centre, which was inaugurated on Sunday, has come as a major boost for healthcare infrastructure in north Nagpur. Located at Kamal Chowk, Lashkaribagh, the centre is dedicated to memory of Bhanutai Gadkari, mother of Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, who presided over the programme when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the facility. "This diagnostic centre will be a milestone in the healthcare sector. Combining empathy with service, it sets an example of how indigenous technology can be used to bring down the cost of essential diagnostics for the common man," said Fadnavis while praising Gadkari's initiative. Gadkari, on an emotional note, said that the centre is not a commercial project, but a service mission inspired by his mother's legacy for compassion and empathy. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your IQ Is 140 If You Can Answer 10 of These Questions Correctly. IQ International Undo by Taboola by Taboola "From my first day in public life, her blessings guided me to serve the poor and suffering," said Gadkari and made an appeal to include bone marrow, sickle cell and thalassaemia treatments under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. The fully air-conditioned centre, run by the late Bhanutai Gadkari Gramin Vikas Sanstha, features a modern waiting area, paperless operations, high-capacity servers, and trained technical staff. All MRI and CT scan machines have been manufactured in India, in collaboration with AMTZ (Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone), significantly cutting costs compared to imported equipment. "This is the first time in India that a diagnostic centre has been established with 100% indigenous machines. We used to import MRI machines for Rs6 crore. Now, we are making them at Rs2 crore and exporting them too," said Dr Jitendra Sharma, managing director of AMTZ. # WHAT CENTRE OFFERS MRI – Rs1,200: High-end 1.5 Tesla imaging with 16-channel MUSIC technology ensuring quick scans with excellent image quality CT Scan — Rs800: BIS, AERB and CDSCO-approved fast scanning machines. Full chest scans done in just 6 seconds Digital X-ray — Rs100; high-resolution, modern digital imaging Dialysis — Rs750 standard, only Rs250 if NMC provides ₹500 subsidy—free dialysis for donor-backed patients Pathology Tests — Rs300; over 40 common tests included Pharmacy — Generic medicines available at 10% discount


NDTV
7 hours ago
- NDTV
Centre Flags Carcinogen Fears On Acidity Medicine Ranitidine, Orders Probe
New Delhi: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has directed all state and union territory drug regulators to ensure manufacturers of Ranitidine -- a commonly used acidity medicine --monitor NDMA levels, a potentially cancer-causing impurity, in both the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and formulations of the drug. The CDSCO has also suggested reducing the shelf life as a precautionary step. The move comes from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, following a recommendation by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) during its 92nd meeting on April 28, 2025. The Board reviewed a report submitted by an expert committee constituted in December last year to study the impurity concerns around Ranitidine. Based on this, DTAB has called for a larger committee to examine all aspects of the issue, including storage conditions that may contribute to NDMA formation. In addition, the Board recommended that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conduct a study to further assess the long-term safety of Ranitidine in light of NDMA presence. Manufacturers have now been told to adopt risk-based measures, such as limiting shelf life, modifying storage recommendations, and enhancing NDMA testing protocols across their supply chains. "Ranitidine falls in the Group 2A carcinogen category, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which implies that it is a probable human carcinogen. It should not be continued in prescription when there are safer alternatives such as Famotidine and Pantoprazole available," said Dr Abhishek Shankar, Oncologist, AIIMS Delhi. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen, and its presence in medications has triggered global regulatory scrutiny over recent years. Ranitidine, commonly prescribed for acid reflux and ulcers, was withdrawn from several markets, including the US, after alarmingly high levels of NDMA were found in some samples. "Ranitidine was commonly prescribed in the past. Its usage has reduced in most metro cities, but it is still prescribed in Tier 1 or 2 cities, particularly at primary healthcare centres. In my knowledge, the drug has been known to have NDMA impurities; the FDA has also ruled out the use of this drug in large doses. The DGCI needs to set prescribed limits for NDMA levels in this drug," said Dr Lohit Chauhan, Gastroenterologist at Max Dwarka.


Economic Times
12 hours ago
- Economic Times
Indian doctors in France perform complex surgeries on 2 patients in Indore, courtesy robotics tech
Agencies Indian surgeons performed complex surgeries on two patients in Indore while attending a conference around 8,000 km away at Strasbourg in France, showcasing the effectiveness and major advancements in cross-continent robotic telesurgery. The two procedures, a gastric bypass and a cardiac atrial septal defect (ASD) closure, were performed by two Indian surgeons at the annual conference of the Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) held in Strasbourg using the indigenously developed SSI Mantra Surgical Robotic System. The conference held from July 16-20 was attended by scientists, surgeons and medtech partners from across the world. The first procedure, a gastric bypass, was performed by Dr Mohit Bhandari, president of IRCAD India and founder of Mohak Bariatrics and Robotics, Indore, on July out remotely from Strasbourg, the surgery lasted just over 44 minutes and was completed without second surgery, a robotic closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD), a form of congenital heart defect, was carried out by Dr Sudhir Srivastava, founder-chairman and CEO of SS Innovations International Inc., from Strasbourg while the patient remained in procedure was moderated live at the conference by Dr Husam H Balkhy, president of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS), and director of robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery at the University of Chicago event served as a compelling demonstration of the growing feasibility of real-time, cross-continental surgical collaboration, Srivastava procedures were performed remotely from the Institut de recherche contre les cancers de l'appareil digestif (IRCAD) headquarters in Strasbourg at two medical centres in Indore -- Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS) and IRCAD National in Indore, the patient-side support team ensured seamless coordination, led by Dr Lalit Malik, chief of cardiac surgery at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur; Dr Ram Krishna Shukla, cardiologist, and Dr Bipin Arya, anesthesiologist, both from SAIMS, procedures were supported by technical teams from both SS Innovations and SAIMS, ensuring real-time responsiveness and safety. The success of the surgeries highlights the viability of intercontinental robotic procedures as a real-world solution to longstanding healthcare access challenges. By eliminating the need for travel and enabling remote expertise to be applied in real time, robotic telesurgery is redefining the boundaries of healthcare delivery - especially for patients in remote or underserved regions, Srivastava said."I am deeply grateful to Dr Vipul Patel, Dr Mohit Bhandari, the IRCAD India team, and everyone at SS Innovations for making the world's first intercontinental robotic cardiac telesurgery a reality."Importantly, such procedures are not only technically viable but also economically accessible, with costs comparable to conventional surgeries, typically ranging between Rs 80,000 and Rs 3.5 lakh, depending on the case and on the hospital, the complexity of the surgery, and the specific case requirements," Srivastava said, "Performing a complex gastric bypass remotely, across continents, marks a transformative moment in surgical science. It's not just about technological capability; it's about bridging gaps in access to quality healthcare."The success of the SSI Mantra system proves that the future of safe, precise, and inclusive surgery is here, and it's being shaped in India." At a conference dominated by global giants in medical technology, the execution of such high-stakes procedures using indigenous technology reflects a growing shift in innovation leadership and global collaboration in healthcare, he date, 35 telesurgeries - including 10 cardiac cases, and over 250 cardiac procedures - have been successfully completed using the SSI Mantra system, Srivastava said. SS Innovations International is the only surgical robotics company to have received regulatory approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for both tele-proctoring and telesurgery in India, he said. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. From near bankruptcy to blockbuster drug: How Khorakiwala turned around Wockhardt Can Chyawanprash save Dabur in the age of Shark-Tank startups? Why Air India could loom large on its biggest rival IndiGo's Q1 results Apple has a new Indian-American COO. What it needs might be a new CEO. How India's oil arbitrage has hit the European sanctions wall Central banks' existential crisis — between alchemy and algorithm Short-term valuation headwinds? Yes. Long-term growth potential intact? Yes. Which 'Yes' is more relevant? Stock Radar: This smallcap stock breaks out from Flag pattern to hit fresh record high in July 2025; time to buy or book profits? For long-term investors: A moat of a different kind; 5 large-cap stocks with an upside potential of up to 38%