Feasibility and Safety of Dual-console Telesurgery with the KangDuo Surgical Robot-01 System Using Fifth-generation and Wired Networks: An Animal Experiment and Clinical Study

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has drawn attention to telesurgery. Important advances in fifth-generation (5G) mobile telecommunication technology have facilitated the rapid evolution of telesurgery. Previously, only a single console was used in telesurgery; thus, there was the possibility of open or laparoscopic conversion. Furthermore, the 5G network has not been available for regional hospitals in China. From October 2021 to April 2022, dual-console telesurgeries with the KangDuo Surgical Robot-01 (KD-SR-01) system were performed using 5G and wired networks in an animal experiment and clinical study. A partial nephrectomy in a porcine model was performed successfully using a wired network. The console time, warm ischemia time, and control swap time were 69 min, 27 min, and 3 s, respectively. The mean latency time was 130 (range, 60–200) ms. A 32-yr-old male patient successfully underwent a remote pyeloplasty using a series connection of 5G wireless and wired networks. The console time and control swap time were 98 min and 3 s, respectively. The mean latency time was 271 (range, 206–307) ms. In the two studies, data pocket loss was <1%. The results demonstrated that dual-console telesurgery with the KD-SR-01 system is feasible and safe using 5G and wired networks. Patient summary: Advances in fifth-generation (5G) mobile telecommunication technology helped in the rapid evolution of telesurgery. Dual-console telesurgery performed with the KD-SR-01 system using 5G and wired networks was shown to be feasible and safe in an animal experiment and clinical study.

Keywords

• Fifth-generation technology
• Partial nephrectomy
• Pyeloplasty
• Robotics
• Telesurgery
• Wired network