5G in the operating theatre

By Sven Rottner

The ESB Business School's Werk150 at Reutlingen University is part of a joint German-French project in medical technology research. The aim of the project of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, the Institute of Image-Guided Surgery Strasbourg (IHU), the ESB Business School and hospitals in Strasbourg, Mannheim and Berlin is to integrate 5G mobile networks into operating theatres. In this way, the researchers will seek to use various applications to counter congestion and the shortage of skilled workers in the hospital sector. As part of the research project, ESB Business School is providing a modern development environment in which a mobile robot will be developed to support operations.

The research partners see the introduction of 5G mobile networks in hospitals as extremely beneficial - for example, the transmission and communication of patient-related data can be more efficient and secure. In addition, the use of 5G technologies has the potential to relieve staff in many areas of the hospital and to secure processes.

At Werk150 of the ESB Business School, which is already working closely with the Fraunhofer IPA on other projects, future research will be conducted on a mobile robot that supports and simplifies procedures during operations. One possible application would be providing instruments that surgeons need during operations. Prof. Dr. techn. Daniel Palm, head of Werk150, points out the advantages of the research environment at ESB Business School: "Werk150 is predestined as a development environment for such a robot. Our team has many years of experience in the field of mobile intralogistics."

Robots have long been used to supply parts in many commercial enterprises - as with the project and research partners of ESB Business School. The Werk150 team makes use of this experience and adapts proven technologies to the particularly sensitive operating theatre environment.

Professor Palm sees another advantage in the German-French research initiative's decision in favour of Werk150: "We have implemented a 5G campus network at Werk150 in 2020. We can offer an extremely realistic research environment and develop the robot under the exact conditions in which it will ultimately be used."

Similar applications are being developed at the other research sites in the joint project. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), these support hospital staff primarily in recording vital signs and interpreting diagnostic images. The project is also driving progress in the field of tele-surgery.

The applications developed in the research environments are then tested in real test environments and made ready for use. Operating theatres in Mannheim, Strasbourg and at the Charité Berlin are available for this purpose. The project will run for three years. It is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the French Ministry of Economy and Finance.