For the first time, surgical helmets developed by 4LifeLAB, with integrated cameras, augmented reality glasses, and 5G, were used to broadcast a robotic spine surgery in real time between ULS São João, in Porto, and ULS Nordeste, in Macedo de Cavaleiros.
Through NOS‘s 5G mobile network, the connection between the two hospitals, separated by 170 kilometers, was ensured with complete stability. This allowed high-quality images, captured from the surgeon’s point of view thanks to a camera built into the surgical helmet, to be transmitted in real time as part of a training session, which trained professionals in a new surgical technique. The ULS Nordeste team monitored the procedure and was able to interact directly with the surgeon.
Augmented reality technology, integrated into the helmet visor, allowed the surgeon to reference and visualize anatomical landmarks with greater precision, functioning as an intraoperative navigation system. This solution increases the safety and effectiveness of the surgical procedure, with significant benefits for the patient.
According to Francisco Serdoura, CEO of 4LifeLAB and Director of Orthopedics at ULS São João, “This robotic spine surgery, performed with a system that is unique in Portugal, marks a historic moment for national medicine. Through the integration of robotics, augmented reality, and 5G connectivity, we were able to share and interact in real time during a complex surgical procedure without compromising the quality or precision of the surgery.
This breakthrough demonstrates how technological innovation can transform clinical practice. At 4LifeLAB and the Orthopedics Department at ULS São João, we believe that this is just the first of many surgeries that will redefine how we can train and treat patients within the National Health Service network.
Carla Botelho, Director of Technological Transformation and Innovation Projects at NOS, emphasizes that this project “is an example of how technology can transform healthcare, bringing professionals closer together and enabling real-time knowledge sharing. This is how we reinforce our commitment to society and to a more connected and humane future.”
For Afonso Ruano, Director of Orthopedics at ULS Nordeste, this project “reinforces the usefulness of new technologies in healthcare, as it allows complex surgeries to be monitored remotely and integrates adjuvants, such as robotic surgery, into patient treatment.
This improves the safety of procedures and also allows for safer and more accurate training of healthcare professionals. This partnership will be even more valuable because ULS Nordeste will soon have a robotic spine surgery unit enhanced with 3D imaging, which can be integrated with this device and 5G technology, “allowing for improved and increased healthcare in the region.”
The ultimate goal of the project is for the helmets to be used to shorten distances between Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) units, bringing teams closer together and reducing disparities in access to innovation between units.
The initiative took place within the scope of the Health from Portugal (HfP) project, a consortium that brings together more than 80 national entities and aims to position Portugal as a global hub for the development of innovative and technological health products and services.