Application of deterministic networking for reducing network delay in urological telesurgery: A retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Network Engineering
• Robotics

Background:

• Deterministic Networking (DetNet) offers precise control over network delay, crucial for advancing telemedicine.
• Telesurgery applications require robust and reliable network performance to ensure patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To verify the feasibility and advantages of using DetNet in telesurgery.
• To compare the performance of DetNet against general networking for remote surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

• Telesurgeries were performed using the 'MicroHand S' surgical robot system.
• Data from telesurgeries utilizing DetNet and general networking over fixed-line and 5G networks were collected and analyzed.
• Key performance indicators including time-delay, packet loss rate, and delay jitter were compared.

Main Results:

• DetNet demonstrated superior control over data transmission in telesurgery compared to general networks.
• Network latency was reduced, and data fluctuations (jitter) were minimized when using DetNet.
• Overall surgery security was enhanced through improved network stability.

Conclusions:

• DetNet fulfills the stringent requirements of telesurgery, including deterministic delay, low jitter, and high bandwidth.
• This technology provides a reliable network foundation for the development and expansion of telemedicine systems.