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For Immediate Release
10/4/2007
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Jennifer Gelman
410-601-5528
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Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Participates in First-Ever Remote Presence Surgery between the United States and Argentina
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Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, InTouch Health, and
Hospital Privado Del Sur in Argentina, announce the success of one of the
world's first surgeries using the Remote Presence Robot, RP-7™. With the
assistance of Sinai Hospital bariatric surgeon Alex Gandsas, M.D., telementoring
from more than 5,400 miles away, Sergio Cantarelli, M.D., and Gabriel Edidi,
M.D., performed a laparoscopic gastric sleeve procedure on a 39-year-old woman
in Bahia Blanca, Argentina on September 20.
The Remote Presence Robot, RP-7, manufactured by InTouch Health, allows a
specialist at one location to mentor surgeons at a remote site via a high speed
Internet connection. The 5-foot, 5-inch robot, which displays the doctor's face
on its 15-inch screen, is controlled by a physician using a joystick to drive
it. With on-board, two-way cameras, microphones and wireless technology, the
robot provides high quality, real-time audio and video communication between
doctors located on two continents. And, the complete mobility of the robot
around the operating room provides optimum visualization for the consulting
surgeon.
"I have never had the opportunity to shake the hand of either of these
surgeons, but with the power of the Internet and the RP-7 robot, I was able to
teach and coach these doctors through a very difficult surgery that will change
a patient's life forever,” said Gandsas. "During the surgery, the robot allowed
me to zoom in on the patient and on the monitors to assess the situation.”
Surgeons at Sinai Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Center, both Maryland
hospitals, trained Cantarelli and Egidi on the laparaoscopic gastric sleeve
procedure using the RP-7 to communicate. During their nine week training period,
the Argentine doctors learned the surgical techniques required to perform the
procedure without ever leaving their hospital.
For hospitals with limited resources remote presence technology offers a cost
effective, state-of-the-art solution for teaching, training and mentoring
physicians.
"Having a world expert from the United States looking over our shoulder
during the surgery greatly enhanced our comfort level and provided the best care
for the patient,” commented Cantarelli on the experience.
InTouch Health and Sinai Hospital hope to continue this relationship and
train additional physicians using remote presence technology.
"The RP-7 robot instantly brings specialists into hospitals
world-wide,” commented Dr. Yulun Wang, Chairman and CEO for InTouch Health.
"Now, doctors anywhere in the world can obtain the training they need to perform
complex surgical procedures without ever leaving home.”
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is a member of LifeBridge Health, a regional
health organization, which includes Northwest Hospital Center, Levindale Hebrew
Geriatric Center and Hospital, Jewish Convalescent & Nursing Home, and
related subsidiaries and affiliates.
InTouch Technologies, Inc. (d.b.a. InTouch Health®) is a privately held
company based in Santa Barbara, CA. The company is pioneering remote presence
technology for hospital providers. Through a proprietary communications and
mobile robotic platform, the RP-7 Remote Presence Robotic System, doctors are
able to consult with hospital-based patients and staff more easily and
frequently. The InTouch Health solution leverages the time and expertise of
healthcare professionals across multiple care facilities, improving the
efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery.
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