This reference case is situated in the domain of healthcare technology, specifically focusing on the validation of 5G technology for advancing surgical practices. The project involves a collaborative effort between key stakeholders, including Barco, Orange, KU Leuven (KUL), Chirec, and Cronos' SweetMustard. The overarching goal is to leverage the unique features of 5G, such as ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, reliability, data privacy, and guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS), to enhance surgical collaboration during live surgeries and explore the feasibility of remote control of surgical robots.
Surgeons often face challenges related to real-time collaboration with expert surgeons during live surgeries. When the expert surgeon is not locally available, he is called in via mobile phone or in the best case, he has a fixed network connection with the hospital to follow remotely. 4G mobile communication networks lack the necessary speed, reliability, low latency and data security required for such critical medical procedures. 5G promises to address these limitations which is the subject of the investigation conducted in this project. Additionally, the project aims to investigate whether 5G technology could be employed to remotely control surgical robots, offering new dimensions in precision and accessibility for surgical interventions.
The collaborative effort of the consortium results in the implementation of mobile app that makes use of 5G-SA technology to address the challenges faced during live surgeries. Leveraging the ultra-low latency and high bandwidth of 5G, expert surgeons could be remotely consulted in real-time via the mobile app, enabling them to provide immediate assistance and contribute to better patient care. Moreover, the project explores the use of 5G for remote control of surgical robots, allowing a surgeon at a distant location to manipulate and control the robot conducting the surgery in the operating room. This innovative solution aims to push the boundaries of surgical capabilities and redefine the possibilities of remote surgical interventions.
The project is currently in execution and is targeted to be completed by the end of 2025.
Sweet Mustard is a partner of InspireHealth, specialized in the creation of mobile applications, with a high focus on usability. They create digital solutions for various markets, amongst which the healthcare market.
Surgical education with hololens