June 30, 2025 — Leading surgical robotics companies have collaborated to publish the first technical guidelines for robotic telesurgery, marking a major step toward industry standards for remote robotic procedures.
The World Journal of Surgery paper includes contributions from experts at Intuitive, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Virtual Incision, Sovato, and others. The coalition aims to prioritize patient safety, promote market adoption, and unlock the potential of remote surgery to improve global access to care.
Remote robotic surgery, pioneered by the 2001 “Lindbergh operation,” has recently advanced through improvements in robotics, telemedicine, and high-speed networks. Preclinical tests and early human procedures across the U.S. and India show growing feasibility and clinical promise.
“This represents a foundational step in enabling scalable, safe remote surgery,” said Sovato’s Yulun Wang. Intuitive’s Brian Miller and Medtronic’s Bill Peine highlighted the collaborative effort as key to advancing accessible, precise surgical care worldwide.
The coalition plans to update guidelines as technology evolves and will develop complementary protocols addressing liability, licensure, credentialing, and clinical considerations later this year.
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