Surgeon Uses PlayStation Controller in Medical Procedure

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Key Takeaways

  • Surgeon completed procedure using PlayStation Move controller.
  • Potential for remote robotic surgery could save lives.
  • Technology has impressive potential for improving surgical procedures.

As a tech enthusiast who has spent countless hours gaming with my trusty PlayStation controllers over the years, I never thought I’d witness a day where one of these controllers would be used to save lives! The idea that a surgeon in Switzerland could perform an endoscopic procedure on a pig located thousands of miles away using a PlayStation Move controller is nothing short of mind-blowing.

A surgeon has used a Sony PlayStation controller to perform a surgical procedure. The impressive feat combines a delicate procedure with a widely accessible PlayStation controller, and has the potential to change the future of surgery.

Although most game controllers are primarily utilized for their designated functions, there are instances where they’re employed for purposes beyond gaming. A well-known example is the game controller used to operate the unfortunate Titan submarine, despite its tragic ending. Nevertheless, such innovative use of a gaming controller might one day prove life-saving.

A Swiss surgeon successfully carried out a distant endoscopy on a pig in Hong Kong, utilizing a PlayStation Move controller for remote operation. The surgery was done using a robotic system, connected through a real-time data transfer protocol called WebSocket, and the surgeon managed to keep the robot’s actions under control with a delay of 300 milliseconds or less while viewing the procedure on a live video feed. The pig and the surgeon were separated by approximately 5,780 miles.

Prior Attempts Used a Different PlayStation Controller

In previous attempts, the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller was employed, but for this specific task, the PlayStation Move controller was chosen. It’s unclear if the surgeon has a preference between the two, as they might find the handling of the PlayStation Move controller more similar to what they are accustomed to when controlling robotic surgical devices, making it potentially more comfortable or natural for them.

The potential for this technology is impressive. Many endoscopic and surgical procedures in general are already performed with the assistance of robotic devices, which allows extreme precision. In some cases, these robotic methods allow surgeons to perform procedures with smaller incisions and far less trauma to the body, improving recovery time and reducing the risk of complications. The hope is that this existing technology could be done remotely, allowing surgeons to perform both life-saving procedures and routine ones without being physically located near the patient. This could allow doctors to save lives in places where on-site medical personnel are limited, or there’s no one available with particular expertise.

Achieving the stage for distant surgeries may require some time due to the critical importance of having a stable internet connection. Yet, it’s truly remarkable that such intricate and precise movements can be managed using something as common and reasonably priced as a PlayStation controller, highlighting the advancement in this technology.

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2024-10-05 04:03