Concord successfully implemented the world's first 5G remote fundus laser therapy.

On the morning of July 7th, 20 19, a 35-year-old patient with ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion successfully received the world's first 5G remote fundus laser treatment in the telemedicine center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, which was jointly completed by Director Chen Youxin of Ophthalmology and Dr. Chen Huan. After the treatment, the patient sighed with emotion: "I didn't expect it to end so soon, and it didn't hurt at all."

In the laser treatment room, Dr. Chen Huan used Navilas targeted navigation laser to take photos of patients' fundus. The fundus photo image is transmitted to the multifunctional hall of the telemedicine center 50 meters away through the 5G network. Director Chen Youxin matched the fundus photos with the fundus fluorescein angiography images previously examined by patients, and then planned laser treatment. Through low-delay and wide-bandwidth 5G data transmission, Dr. Chen Huan in the treatment room can watch every step planned by Director Chen Youxin in real time, and start the navigation laser automatic treatment after the planning is completed. During the whole treatment period, Professor Chen You and Dr. Chen Huan had a real-time video voice call, and adjusted the treatment parameters at any time according to the patient's condition, and finally completed the laser treatment for the patient.

Director Chen Youxin said: "Remote laser and traditional face-to-face laser have exactly the same therapeutic effect. The difference is that the new navigation laser instrument combined with 5G communication technology makes remote real-time laser treatment planning and treatment monitoring possible. The equipment has good eye tracking and image recognition technology, which can ensure laser accuracy and treatment safety. " Dr. Chen Huan said: "During the whole treatment, my main task is to hold the laser mirror steady, focus it to get a clear fundus image and start the treatment. With the 5G network, my laser treatment room can be moved to any hospital in China by Navilas navigation laser instrument. As long as the doctor can look at the fundus with ophthalmoscope, he can dock with Concord Telemedicine Center and complete the remote laser treatment under the guidance of Concord fundus experts. "

William Hinton, vice president of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, attended the event and introduced: "In the past, telemedicine was limited to remote consultation. The future has arrived, and today's remote treatment has become a reality. Peking Union Medical College Hospital vigorously builds a telemedicine center and creates a "cloud-based concord", which is to provide platform support for the innovative practice of various specialties, serve doctors and patients beyond time and space, and contribute concord wisdom and strength to the construction of a healthy China. Telesurgery and treatment have high requirements for network delay, bandwidth, stability and reliability. Reconstruction and Laying of China Mobile 5G Network on the Third Floor of the Teaching Building of Concord Telemedicine Center. With the strong support and guarantee of the mobile company, the 5G remote fundus laser treatment in this case was successfully implemented. "

China is a big country with diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and other fundus diseases. The patient's vision drops, which can lead to blindness in severe cases. Laser therapy is an economical and effective method at present. However, the treatment modes and parameters of different ocular fundus diseases are different, which requires doctors to have a long learning cycle and rich treatment experience. Therefore, at present, primary hospitals in China do not have the ability of fundus laser treatment, and most patients can only be referred to tertiary hospitals in a few big cities for effective treatment.

5G remote fundus laser surgery is non-invasive, safe, and has a wide range of indications, which has high popularization and application value. In the future, patients with fundus diseases can be treated by Concord experts at home, so they don't have to travel back and forth. Geography is no longer a restriction, time and expenses are further saved, and the efficiency and quality of medical services are further improved. Remote fundus laser therapy can promote the sinking of high-quality medical resources to the grassroots level, which not only brings good news to grassroots patients, but also comprehensively improves the diagnosis and treatment level of fundus diseases in grassroots medical institutions.

Director Chen Youxin introduced: "In the future, the deep integration of 5G technology with AI, Internet of Things, cloud technology and other technologies will realize local examination of patients, upload examination data to the cloud, and experts will formulate treatment plans through remote diagnosis and treatment, remotely control laser treatment in real time, and even remotely control eye surgery."

On the same day, Peking Union Medical College Hospital announced the establishment of "Peking Union Medical College Hospital Ophthalmology Teleconsultation Center", "Peking Union Medical College Hospital Ophthalmology Reading Center" and "Cloud Wisdom Fundus Laser Alliance".

Nearly 100 experts from clinical and communication fields attended the "5G Smart Medical Academic Forum" sponsored by the Department of Ophthalmology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital and co-organized by China Mobile, Zhiyuan Huitu and Colin Company, and witnessed this leap moment in telemedicine field together.

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