Telefónica, along with the help from a hospital in Malaga, has presented the first assistance system for surgery that runs entirely on 5G technology.
For the IV Advanced Digestive Endoscopy Conference, Telefónica broadcast medical training sessions live in 4K quality. It achieved this with “almost no latency,” according to Telefónica.
Using augmented reality, essential information could be displayed and updated in real-time throughout the broadcast of the operation.
Katsumi Yamamoto, director of the Endoscopy Centre at Osaka Hospital, could collaborate on screen during the surgery with Dr Pedro Rosón Rodríguez, Head of the Digestive System Service of the Quirónsalud Málaga Hospital, who was conducting the surgery.
This technology has never been possible before 5G and it could open up huge future opportunities.
Numerous practical applications in healthcare
"t was possible to perform this intervention with the added value of doing so live and in real-time with the interaction of doctors and attendees."
Mercedes Fernández, Telefónica.
Mercedes Fernández, Innovation Manager at Telefónica, said, "The operations organised at this conference are just an example of the numerous practical applications that 5G can have in healthcare.”
She went on to say that, "Thanks to two key features of this technology – the low latency that allows transmission without delays and the ability to handle large video streams at high speed – it was possible to perform this intervention with the added value of doing so live and in real-time with the interaction of doctors and attendees to provide solutions and ask questions about the clinical case that was undertaken.”
Dr Pedro Rosón said, "The experience of previous years in organising innovative training courses in digestive endoscopy allows us this year to provide a global training course thanks to 5G technology, something that might seem science fiction but that we are making reality today.
“The use of 5G and augmented reality is, without doubt, what stands out in comparison with our previous editions and with any other standard medical workshops. We are therefore proud to keep and to continue offering an innovative training space with the live conducting of cases by specialists from Spain and abroad, with an emphasis on theory and reviewing the latest advances in interventional endoscopy.”
Using 5G to further medical technology is incredibly exciting and opens new opportunities for remote operations.
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