Lindbergh Operation
Encyclopedia
The Lindbergh Operation was a complete tele-surgical operation carried out by a team of French surgeons located in New York
on a patient in Strasbourg
, France
(over a distance of several thousand miles) using telecommunications solutions based on high-speed services and sophisticated surgical robotics
. The operation was performed successfully on September 7, 2001 by Professor Jacques Marescaux
and his team from the IRCAD (Institute for Research into Cancer of the Digestive System). This was the first time in medical history that a technical solution proved capable of reducing the time delay inherent to long distance transmissions sufficiently to make this type of procedure possible. The name was derived from that of American
aviator
Charles Lindbergh
, because he was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
.
on a 68-year-old female patient in surgical ward A in Strasbourg Civil Hospital, in Eastern France. From New York, the surgeon controlled the arms of the ZEUS
Robotic Surgical System, designed by Computer Motion, to operate on the patient. The link between the robotic system and the surgeon was provided by a high-speed fiberoptic service deployed thanks to the combined efforts of several France Telecom
group entities.
Commenting on the operation, Professor Marescaux said:
group and Computer Motion, a developer of surgical robotic systems. The EITS (European Institute of Telesurgery) and France Télécom
were also involved.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on a patient in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(over a distance of several thousand miles) using telecommunications solutions based on high-speed services and sophisticated surgical robotics
Robotic surgery
Robotic surgery, computer-assisted surgery, and robotically-assisted surgery are terms for technological developments that use robotic systems to aid in surgical procedures....
. The operation was performed successfully on September 7, 2001 by Professor Jacques Marescaux
Jacques Marescaux
Jacques Marescaux is a French doctor of international renown. He is Chairman of the digestive and endocrine surgery at University Hospital, Strasbourg.- Biography :* 1948: Born in Clermont* 1971: Major in the contest for the Internat...
and his team from the IRCAD (Institute for Research into Cancer of the Digestive System). This was the first time in medical history that a technical solution proved capable of reducing the time delay inherent to long distance transmissions sufficiently to make this type of procedure possible. The name was derived from that of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, because he was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Details of the procedure
The operation involved minimally invasive surgery: The 45-minute procedure consisted of a cholecystectomyCholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. It is the most common method for treating symptomatic gallstones. Surgical options include the standard procedure, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and an older more invasive procedure, called open cholecystectomy.-Open surgery:A...
on a 68-year-old female patient in surgical ward A in Strasbourg Civil Hospital, in Eastern France. From New York, the surgeon controlled the arms of the ZEUS
ZEUS robot
ZEUS is a minimally invasive robotic surgery system. ZEUS can be known as an RSS alternatively. ZEUS is known widely since it was used in a tele-surgery operation where the surgeon was in New York and the patient was in France on September 7, 2001.-Cost:...
Robotic Surgical System, designed by Computer Motion, to operate on the patient. The link between the robotic system and the surgeon was provided by a high-speed fiberoptic service deployed thanks to the combined efforts of several France Telecom
France Télécom
France Telecom S.A. is the main telecommunications company in France, the third-largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It currently employs about 180,000 people and has 192.7 million customers worldwide . In 2010 the group had revenue of €45.5 billion...
group entities.
Commenting on the operation, Professor Marescaux said:
Project partners
The surgery was the result of a closely coordinated partnership between IRCAD, the France TélécomFrance Télécom
France Telecom S.A. is the main telecommunications company in France, the third-largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It currently employs about 180,000 people and has 192.7 million customers worldwide . In 2010 the group had revenue of €45.5 billion...
group and Computer Motion, a developer of surgical robotic systems. The EITS (European Institute of Telesurgery) and France Télécom
France Télécom
France Telecom S.A. is the main telecommunications company in France, the third-largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It currently employs about 180,000 people and has 192.7 million customers worldwide . In 2010 the group had revenue of €45.5 billion...
were also involved.