SS Innovations International has set a new precedent in medical technology by successfully executing two landmark robotic cardiac telesurgeries in a span of just two days. The surgeries were performed using the SSi Mantra 3 Surgical Robotic System, a milestone that not only showcases technological advancement but potentially redefines accessibility to healthcare in India and beyond.
These telesurgeries were conducted by connecting SS Innovations’ headquarters in Gurugram with Manipal Hospital located in Jaipur, Rajasthan, spanning a notable distance of 286 kilometers (177.7 miles). This achievement reflects a significant stride towards bridging the gap between urban medical expertise and remote patient access.
Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, founder, chairman, and CEO of SS Innovations, expressed the team’s exhilaration over this technological advancement. “We are extremely thrilled to have advanced the capabilities of surgery to benefit humanity, particularly in areas that need it the most,” Dr. Srivastava stated. He emphasized how telesurgery can fill the void in healthcare access, offering the same level of care regardless of geographical constraints. “For a country like India,” Dr. Srivastava continued, “this innovation holds the potential to transform the accessibility of healthcare services, particularly benefiting the vast rural population and reducing healthcare disparities.”
The two surgeries demonstrated the seamless capability of telesurgery to facilitate expert medical care across distances. The first surgery involved a remotely conducted robotic-assisted internal mammary artery harvesting procedure, completed in just 58 minutes with an impressively low latency of 35 to 40 milliseconds, equivalent to less than 1/20th of a second. The second procedure tackled the complex robotic beating heart totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB), showcasing the collaboration’s proficiency in performing intricate cardiac surgeries remotely.
Dr. Srivastava led the surgical team from the headquarters in Gurugram while Dr. Lalit Malik, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, supported the procedures with his expert team from the remote location in Jaipur. Dr. Malik remarked, “The remote robotic-assisted CABG [coronary artery bypass graft] on an elderly patient from Jaipur demonstrates how technology can bridge geographical gaps to provide accurate and timely medical interventions.”
The SSi Mantra 3 Surgical Robotic System, with regulatory approval for telesurgery and tele-proctoring from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), is indicative of SS Innovations' commitment to technological innovation. The system’s features include a modular design with three to five robotic arms, enhanced by a 32-inch 3D 4K monitor and a 23-inch 2D touch panel monitor that provide real-time imaging and 3D model superimpositions of diagnostic imaging.
This regulatory approval not only opens the door for remote surgeries but also for medical education, allowing healthcare professionals to collaborate over distances—a significant development for medical training and patient care.
SS Innovations is ambitiously planning to expand the use of its cost-effective and user-friendly systems globally, aiming to revolutionize the standards of surgical procedures and patient care. In recent ventures, the company performed its first robotic cardiac surgery in Indonesia, indicating its global reach and the transformative potential of the SSi Mantra in enhancing healthcare accessibility and precision.
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