PRESS RELEASE – 2008-06-26
Robotised Telemedicine world premiere at sea
Under the European research MARTE (Mobile And Robotized Tele-Echography)program, a group of Franco-Cypriot researchers,from the Prisme Institute University of Orleans, France and the Telemedicine Laboratory Cyprus University of Technology,succeeded in a world premiere telemedicine experience. A tele-robotic ultrasound act was performed the 11th June 2008 with a volunteer “patient” on board of the “Sapphire” ship cruising across the Eastern Mediterranean sea, between the coast of Egypt and Cyprus. The robotized tele-echography act was done via satellite using a new tracking antenna device (SAILOR fleet broad band) from Thrane&Thrane and distributed by Tototheo company from Cyprus.
The robotized tele-echography was performed by 2 medical experts located in their respective hospital (Dr Chrisa Tziakouri from the CyprusNicosia GeneralHospital, and Dr Arnaud Coatrieux from Bourges Regional HospitalFrance). Each expert performed a tele-echography and confronted their diagnosis on the same patient on board of the cruise ship. The remote ultrasound probe holder robot, developed by Prisme Institute and manufactured by Robosoft, was positioned by one of the medical crew team on the volunteer’s body. The ultrasound images, provided by a SonoSite Titan portable ultrasound device, and the robot data were sent using TCP/IP and UDP protocol via Inmarsatsatellite using an average bandwidth of about 300 kbps. A multisite videoconferencing allowed the experts, the paramedical assistant, and the «patient»to discuss the medical diagnosis and provide the Captain with relevant medical information for his decision and action towards the simulated emergency situation.
The immediate outcome for this portable telehealth systemwill address patients in medically isolated area due to the growing lack of ultrasound specialists. Patients will be able to access high quality health care from anywhere (e.g. a local medical office or the patient’s home) at anytime as any specialists, thanks to the robotic device, could be on call from any specialized hospital centers; Currently, a clinical pilot phase is being conducted,by the UMPS unit of the University of Tours, within the French Center Region among 5 main hospitals with 5 teleoperated robotic devices. Another high potential application is the use of the robotized system on board of any moving vehicle (ship, ambulance, plane…) avoiding eventually unnecessary rerouting based on a high quality diagnosis made by theultrasound specialist from his/her own expert center.
This research program was financed by “IPE-Chypre” for the Cyprus partners and by«Egide»for the French partners; The success of the experiment was made possible thanks to the strong collaboration and support ofthe Cyprus telecom company (CYTA),LOUIS Cruise Lines, TOTOTHEO, e-NET Solutions, ROBOSOFT andSONOSITE-France.
For further information please contact: Pr. Pierre Vieyres and Cyril Novales, (Institut Prisme, University of Orléans, ) or M. Sotos Voskaridis (TEPAK, CyprusTechnologicalUniversity, Limassol,)
Contact: Pierre Vieyres Institut PRISME, 63 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny, 18000 Bourges
Tel 02 48 23 8465; email:
Settings of the robotized tele-echography chain world premiere with a volunteer patient on board of a cruise ship via satellite
Contact: Pierre Vieyres Institut PRISME, 63 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny, 18000 Bourges
Tel 02 48 23 8465; email: