In an unprecedented achievement that blends cutting-edge technology with medical innovation, India’s first indigenous surgical robotic system has redefined what is possible in modern healthcare. Imagine this: a patient in Jaipur is undergoing complex heart surgery, while a surgeon sitting 285 kilometers away in Gurugram performs the operation with precision using a robotic system.

Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, renowned cardiologist and founder of SS Innovations, recently used SSI Mantra 3, the first surgical robotic system made in India, to perform two telesurgeries on patients at other locations in India.

Telesurgery allows a surgeon to operate on a patient remotely using high-speed Internet and robotic systems, eliminating the need for physical presence.

“This revolutionary approach has the potential to bring advanced health care to underserved areas and democratize access to specialized surgical care,” Dr Srivastava told India Today Digital.

Cardiologist’s indigenous surgical system recently received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India’s regulatory body, for telesurgery and teleproctoring.

While telesurgery involves conducting surgical procedures remotely, in which the surgeon controls the robotic system through an internet connection, teleproctoring, on the other hand, allows expert surgeons to guide or supervise other surgeons during procedures. , even if they are miles apart.

Two historic surgeries in India

According to experts at SS Innovation, the world’s first robotic cardiac telesurgery was conducted on two consecutive days on January 8 and 9 at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur.

The first was an internal mammary artery embolization procedure, which was completed in just 58 minutes. Dr Srivastava, operating from Gurugram, collaborated with Dr Lalit Malik, Head of Cardiac Surgery at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, to carry out this precise surgery, with a latency of only 35-40 milliseconds (1/20th of a second). Did.

One of the biggest challenges with telesurgery is latency time, which is the delay in transferring audio, video, and tactile feedback between two distant locations.

This delay is mainly caused by network problems, such as routing problems, congestion or overloaded servers. High latency can make surgeries longer and less precise, increasing the risk to the patient and delaying their recovery.

The second surgery was Robotic Beating Heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB), which is considered one of the most complex heart procedures because the surgeon has to operate on the artery while the heart is still beating.

In both cases, the patients were 285 km away from the surgeon.

Not only this, the SSI Mantra system received CDSCO approval for telesurgery and teleproctoring with rigorous testing including clinical trials, technical evaluation and ethical reviews.

India’s first indigenous surgical robot

The idea of ​​creating an indigenous surgical robot was conceived by Dr. Srivastava in 2011 after working for years with the US-based surgical robot Da Vinci System.

“Having performed more than 1,400 cardiac surgeries using the da Vinci system, I wanted to develop a system that was equally efficient but more affordable. With a young engineering team, we created the SSI Mantra system, which costs Is significantly smaller and provides advanced functionality.” he earlier told India Today Digital.

The journey of the project was not without challenges. Dr. Srivastava said, “Development of sophisticated medical devices in India is rare due to lack of funds and long construction period. Our project requires $15 million and careful attention to intellectual property.”

Robotic surgery uses advanced systems with robotic arms, a high-definition 3D camera, and a console for surgeons. Robotic arms replicate the surgeon’s hand movements with extraordinary accuracy, reducing human error. Features such as automatic safety mechanisms ensure complete control by the surgeon, stopping the procedure if the surgeon becomes distracted.

Is this a leap towards accessible healthcare?

With this surgical advancement, there is a possibility of surgeries being performed on people living in remote areas who cannot reach hospitals in cities.

Dr. Srivastava explained the broader impact of these advancements, “By enabling telesurgery, we bridge the gap in access to medical expertise, providing high-standard care to underserved communities. This innovation reduces the logistical and financial burden on families. ensuring timely intervention while reducing

The expert said, the SSI Mantra system is not only technologically advanced but also cost effective.

While international robotic systems like Da Vinci cost around Rs 15 crore, SSI Mantra costs Rs 5 crore, making it more accessible to medium-sized hospitals, even in tier II and III cities.

Dr. Lalit Malik stressed, “This robotic cardiac telesurgery demonstrates how technology is bridging the geographic gap to enhance patient care. It ensures that patients have access to the most advanced treatments available.”

Robotic surgery offers several advantages over traditional methods:

• Smaller incisions: minimal scarring and faster recovery.
• Reduction in pain and blood loss: Increases patient comfort.
• Less infection: less risk of complications.
• Faster recovery: Due to faster recovery, there is less time to stay in the hospital.

These advantages make robotic surgery ideal for complex procedures, including genitourinary tract cancers, gynecological and gastrointestinal cancers, and head, neck and lung surgery.

Telesurgery: A giant leap in healthcare

Telesurgery was first performed in 2001 by a surgical team in New York, USA, using the ZEUS robotic system developed by the US-based company Intuitive Surgical.

The surgery lasted two hours and involved the removal of a female patient’s gallbladder at a hospital in Strasbourg, France.

Later in 2008, a prototype of the da Vinci robotic system was tested for its potential in telesurgery and is now being used globally, even in India.

Although the indigenous surgical robot is making quantum leaps in healthcare, Dr Srivastava said the focus is on transforming delivery.

Beyond India, robotic surgery has become quite popular with telesurgery covering distances of over 12,000 km.

In August 2024, the operation’s lead surgeon, Dr Luo Qingquan of Shanghai Chest Hospital, removed a lung tumor from a patient sitting in China’s far west.

In November, French surgeon Dr Younes Ahlal traveled 12,000 km to successfully remove a patient’s prostate tumor in Morocco in under two hours and stitched the area.

By making advanced treatments more accessible and affordable, the SSI Mantra system is set to reshape patient care across India and beyond through decentralized and democratized healthcare.

It can change lives one surgery at a time.