Successful Use of a 5G-Based Robot-Assisted Remote Ultrasound System in a Care Center for Disabled Patients in Rural China

Abstract

BackgroundDisability has become a global population health challenge. Due to difficulties in self-care or independent living, patients with disability mainly live in community-based care centers or institutions for long-term care. Nonetheless, these settings often lack basic medical resources, such as ultrasonography. Thus, remote ultrasonic robot technology for clinical applications across wide regions is imperative. To date, few experiences of remote diagnostic systems in rural care centers have been reported.ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of a fifth-generation cellular technology (5G)-based robot-assisted remote ultrasound system in a care center for disabled patients in rural China.MethodsPatients underwent remote robot-assisted and bedside ultrasound examinations of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and kidneys. We compared the diagnostic consistency and differences between the two modalities and evaluated the examination duration, image quality, and safety.ResultsForty-nine patients were included (21 men; mean age: 61.0 ± 19.0 [range: 19–91] years). Thirty-nine and ten had positive and negative results, respectively; 67 lesions were detected. Comparing the methods, 41 and 8 patients had consistent and inconsistent diagnoses, respectively. The McNemar and kappa values were 0.727 and 0.601, respectively. The mean duration of remote and bedside examinations was 12.2 ± 4.5 (range: 5–26) min and 7.5 ± 1.8 (range: 5–13) min (p < 0.001), respectively. The median image score for original images on the patient side and transmitted images on the doctor side was 5 points (interquartile range: [IQR]: 4.7–5.0) and 4.7 points (IQR: 4.5–5.0) (p = 0.176), respectively. No obvious complications from the examination were reported.ConclusionsA 5G-based robot-assisted remote ultrasound system is feasible and has comparable diagnostic efficiency to traditional bedside ultrasound. This system may provide a unique solution for basic ultrasound diagnostic services in primary healthcare settings.

Feasibility and Safety of 5G‐Based Telerobotic Abdominal Ultrasonography

“…Additionally, a 5G-based robot-assisted remote ultrasound system was successfully used as an alternative to traditional bedside ultrasound for abdominal imaging. [5][6][7]11 Therefore, physicians can use a highbandwidth, low-latency 5G dedicated network to provide liver disease specialist medical care through video consultation and remote control of the ultrasound scanning system. This enables overcoming geographical limitations and providing professional medical care to remote residents.…”

“…Robotic technologies, such as LoRa one and two, have been used to remotely control ultrasound probes; this can solve clinical problems related to distance and accessibility. Additionally, a 5G‐based robot‐assisted remote ultrasound system was successfully used as an alternative to traditional bedside ultrasound for abdominal imaging 5–7,11 . Therefore, physicians can use a high‐bandwidth, low‐latency 5G dedicated network to provide liver disease specialist medical care through video consultation and remote control of the ultrasound scanning system.…”

“…Inherent transmission delays in conventional network infrastructures lead to suboptimal image quality and operational challenges during remote ultrasound examinations. 5G is the latest generation of cellular mobile communication technology and has the advantages of high bandwidth, wide connectivity, and low latency 4,5 . Leveraging the high mobility of advanced wireless 5G communication technology has facilitated remote diagnosis and treatment via abdominal ultrasound, thereby enhancing the accessibility of medical care 6,7 .…”

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy guided by 5G-powered robot-assisted teleultrasound diagnosis system: first clinical experience with a novel tele-assistance approach (IDEAL stage 1)

“…A master-slave control subsystem of RTDS is used to guarantee real-time consistency of scan-motions and contact-force between the doctor-side simulated probe and the patient-side robot-probe via several sensors (Fig. 2 a, b) [ 10 , 16 ]. The interactive audio-visual subsystem of RTDS allows intraoperative monitoring and communication between two sides [ 10 , 17 ].…”

“…Real-time dynamic images of teleultrasound first are compiled into corresponding byte codes at patient side, and then transmitted from CPE to the nearest base station via an encrypted data stream. Through 5G network, encrypted data is transmitted to the doctor-side base station and ultimately decoded to obtain patient’s ultrasound images at doctor side [ 10 , 16 , 17 ] (Fig. 2 C).…”