SS Innovations International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSII) announced the successful completion of what it said is the world’s longest-distance robotic telesurgery, with a robot-assisted cardiac procedure performed across approximately 12,500 miles (20,000 kilometers) of fiber network distance between Guyana and India using the company’s SSi Mantra surgical robotic system. The procedure was conducted remotely by CEO and cardiac surgeon Dr. Sudhir Srivastava from Guyana, while the patient-side robotic system operated in India, functioning with network latency of approximately 290-300 milliseconds.
The company said the achievement surpasses its previous telesurgery distance record of approximately 6,250 miles and further demonstrates the capabilities of the SSi Mantra platform in long-distance surgical applications. The milestone coincided with the launch of Guyana’s National Robotic Surgery Program and follows regulatory approval for the SSi Mantra in Guyana. SS Innovations noted that 173 telesurgeries have now been performed using the platform globally, including 22 cardiac telesurgeries, which it said makes SSi Mantra the only surgical robotic system currently used for robotic cardiac telesurgery.
This breakthrough has significant implications for global healthcare access, particularly in underserved regions where specialist surgeons are scarce. By enabling remote surgeries over vast distances, the technology could transform how critical care is delivered, reducing the need for patient travel and allowing top surgeons to operate anywhere in the world with low latency. The success of this procedure, with latency under 300 milliseconds, suggests that robotic telesurgery is viable even across intercontinental distances, potentially paving the way for routine remote surgeries in the future.
For SS Innovations, this achievement strengthens its position in the competitive surgical robotics market. The SSi Mantra system, designed to be user-friendly and cost-effective, aims to democratize robotic surgery by making it more accessible to a larger segment of the global population. The company plans to expand the global presence of its solutions, which include the SSi Mudra surgical instruments for various procedures, including cardiac surgery.
The completion of this record-breaking telesurgery also highlights the growing role of telecommunications infrastructure in healthcare. The use of fiber networks to maintain stable connections over 12,500 miles demonstrates that existing technology can support complex medical procedures, opening doors for telemedicine applications beyond consultation. As SS Innovations continues to perform more telesurgeries, including 22 cardiac cases, the data and experience gained will be invaluable for refining the technology and protocols.
This milestone is not just a technological feat but a step toward reducing healthcare disparities. By enabling surgeons to operate remotely, the SSi Mantra system can bring expert care to remote areas, potentially saving lives that might otherwise be lost due to lack of access. The company’s focus on affordability and accessibility aligns with global health goals, and this achievement underscores the potential of robotic telesurgery to become a standard tool in modern medicine.
