Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:

Transatlantic robot-assisted telesurgery

Nature volume 413, pages 379–380 (2001)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 13 December 2001

ATM technology now enables operations to be performed over huge distances.

Abstract

The introduction of robotic and computer technology into surgical operations allows dexterity to be increased1,2,3 and surgical procedures to be carried out from a distance (telesurgery)4. But until now, the distance feasible for remote telesurgery was considered to be limited to a few hundred miles1 by the time lag of existing telecommunication lines. Here we show that robot-assisted remote telesurgery can be safely carried out across transoceanic distances. The ability to perform complex surgical manipulations from remote locations will eliminate geographical constraints and make surgical expertise available throughout the world, improving patient treatment and surgical training.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Satava, R. M. Arch. Surg. 134, 1197–1202 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Haluck, R. S. & Krummel, T. M. Arch. Surg. 135, 786–792 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Buckingham, R. A. & Buckingham, R. O. Br. Med. J. 311, 1479–1482 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Link, R. E., Schulam, P. G. & Kavoussi, L. R. Urol. Clin. N. Am. 28, 177–188 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Janetschek, G., Bartsch, G. & Kavoussi, L. R. J. Urol. 160, 1413–1416 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cubano, M. et al. Surg. Endosc. 13, 673–678 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rosser, J. C. Jr. et al. J. Am. Coll. Surg. 189, 397–404 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee, B. R. et al. World J. Urol. 16, 367–370 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Micali, S. et al. J. Endourol. 14, 493–496 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Cheah, W. K., Lee, B., Lenzi, J. E. & Goh, P. M. Y. Surg. Endosc. 14, 1085 (2000).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Mack, M. J. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 285, 568–572 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Fabrizio, M. D. et al. J. Endourol. 14, 133–138 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Satava, R. M. & Jones, S. B. in Cybersurgery: Advanced Technologies for Surgical Practice (ed. Satava, R. M.) 141–154 (Wiley-Liss, New York, 1998).

  14. Broderick, T. J. et al. Telemed. J. e-Health 7, 47–53 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRCAD European Institute of Telesurgery, Louis Pasteur University, 1 Place de l'Hopital, Strasbourg, 6700, France

    Jacques Marescaux, Joel Leroy, Francesco Rubino, Didier Mutter, Michel Vix & Michelle K. Smith

  2. Department of Laparoscopic Surgery, IRCAD European Institute of Telesurgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, 10029, USA

    Michel Gagner

  3. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, 93106, California, USA

    Steven E. Butner

Authors
  1. Jacques Marescaux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joel Leroy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michel Gagner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Francesco Rubino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Didier Mutter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Michel Vix
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Steven E. Butner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Michelle K. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacques Marescaux.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Marescaux, J., Leroy, J., Gagner, M. et al. Transatlantic robot-assisted telesurgery. Nature 413, 379–380 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35096636

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35096636

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing