Shanghai, China & Casablanca, Morocco, 04 December 2024 - On November 16th, the Toumai® Laparoscopic Surgical Robot (Toumai® Robot) set a new world record for the longest intercontinental telesurgery. Dr. Youness Ahallal, a renowned Moroccan surgeon, successfully performed a radical prostatectomy on a patient in Casablanca, Morocco, while operating remotely from Shanghai, China, spanning an incredible 12,000 kilometers. This groundbreaking surgery now holds the record for the longest-distance remote operation.
During the surgery, Dr. Youness Ahallal controlled the Toumai® Robot from a remote console in Shanghai. With precise hand movements and foot pedal controls, the robot's mechanical arms in Casablanca perfectly mirrored his commands – enabling tasks such as dissection, cutting, coagulation, and hemostasis. The prostate lesion was entirely excised, with the neurovascular bundles and urethral length carefully preserved. The bladder neck was meticulously sutured to the urethra, successfully completing urinary reconstruction. The operation was executed with clear and stable real-time visuals, responsive robotic controls, and effective communication between the medical teams on both ends.
Professor Peter Wiklund, a globally recognized expert in robotic surgery from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, observed the surgery. With over two decades of experience, Professor Wiklund emphasized that remote robotic surgery has the potential to revolutionize medical practice, especially by addressing disparities in surgical expertise and overcoming resource limitations in remote areas. He stated, “Remote surgery will become a global standard in the future, reshaping both surgical procedures and surgeons training.”
After the surgery, Dr. Youness Ahallal, who has performed over 1,000 robotic surgeries, shared his insights with local media. He praised the Toumai® Robot for its precision, stability, and flexibility, which were key factors in completing the complex procedure despite the unprecedented distance. He remarked, “Remote surgery is pushing the limits of healthcare access, bringing world-class expertise wherever it’s needed, and allowing experienced surgeons to mentor young doctors remotely.”
To date, the Toumai® Robot has assisted in over 250 remote surgeries, with a 100% success rate. The cumulative transmission distance has surpassed 400,000 km, setting more than 20 world records.
Dr. Chao He, President of MedBot™, revealed that this groundbreaking surgery was conducted without 5G networks. Instead, it relied entirely on standard broadband connections at both ends. He explained “With proper network configurations, regular broadband is fully capable of supporting remote robotic surgeries”.
About MicroPort® MedBot™
Commenced its development for laparoscopic surgery robots in 2014, and officially established in Shanghai in 2015, Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd. ("MicroPort® MedBot™", stock code: 02252.HK), a subsidiary of MicroPort Scientific Corporation ("MicroPort®", stock code: 00853.HK), is currently the only surgical robot company in the world with businesses covering five promising subsectors of surgical robots, including endoscopy, orthopedics, vascular intervention, natural orifice surgery, and percutaneous puncture. At MicroPort® MedBot™, we are committed to meeting the growing demand for cutting-edge robotic surgery. By integrating advanced research on robotics, control algorithms, image-based navigation, and precision imaging, we provide comprehensive intelligent surgical solutions to prolong and reshape the lives of patients, lead the advancement of robotic surgery, and shape the era of intelligent surgery.
More information is available at: www.medbotsurgical.com/en