Ghent: Orsi and Nvidia Unveil World’s First 9,000 km AI-Assisted Surgery

Ghent (Eurotoday) – Ghent’s Orsi Academy (Merelbeke-Melle) and Nvidia have developed an AI tool for surgical training, which analyzes real-time images and assists surgeons. This marks Belgium’s first remote surgery from Ghent to Shanghai (9,000 km). Pieter De Backer was involved.

The Orsi Academy in Ghent, Belgium, has partnered with Nvidia to develop an advanced AI tool for surgical training. This innovative technology debuted at a major international conference, allowing surgeons and medical professionals to engage with an AI-powered chatbot during live procedures. Officials explained that this intelligent system analyzes real-time surgical images and provides tailored explanations to users at all experience levels. 

“We first tested the tool during this congress,” says Pieter De Backer of the Orsi Academy from Merelbeke-Melle.

Is Ghent’s Orsi & Nvidia AI transforming surgery on a global scale?

According to officials, the AI tool developed by Orsi Academy and Nvidia is more than just a source of information.  This groundbreaking system enables trainees and surgeons to ask questions during procedures without interrupting the operation.  

They noted that the AI analyzes live footage and offers insights that enhance decision-making and patient safety. Officials emphasized that this is a significant step in integrating AI into medicine, with potential applications in robotic surgery, diagnostics, and remote education.

“It can certainly be a tool for the team during long operations, and at the same time it helps people in training or patients who have questions afterwards.”

Pieter De Backer, Orsi Academy

The system is designed to understand even a child’s language. In a Belgian first, a long-distance operation was conducted using a robot connected to an operating room in Shanghai, China.  The robot can be controlled from Ghent, Belgium, through a visor, control panel, and pedals.

Officials stated that with a stable internet connection, latency is minimal, allowing specialists to perform precise operations remotely. The initial test was conducted on a chicken leg, as the technology is not yet certified for human procedures.

“We work with nanomaterial over a distance of 9,000 kilometers.”

Pieter De Backer

According to Pieter De Backer, this technology could enable patients in remote areas to receive treatment from top surgeons without the need to travel. It also allows specialists to operate in multiple locations. However, some challenges remain. A strong, reliable internet connection is essential, and researchers are working on solutions to prevent connectivity issues. Additionally, official regulatory approval is required before the technology can be implemented in hospitals.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

UN Calls on Global Community to Remember Rohingya Refugees Amid Aid Reduction Threats

UN Calls on Global Community to Remember Rohingya Refugees Amid Aid Reduction Threats

In Geneva on Tuesday, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch warned of significant cuts in humanitarian and development funding that threaten essential services for one of the largest refugee populations. He emphasized the critical role of Bangladesh and international support in addressing basic needs and providing protection. The mass arrival of Rohingya refugees began in August 2017, with approximatel

Read More

Kyiv Cathedral Hit by Russian Drone Strikes Overnight

Kyiv Cathedral Hit by Russian Drone Strikes Overnight

The leader of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv, described the incident as “another Russian crime against humanity, against history, against Christianity.”
“What more must the Kremlin Antichrist do for the world to realize that decisive action must be taken to end Russian terror against Ukraine and the very principles of peace?” he wrote on X.
Presi

Read More

“Growing sense” that Europe cannot rely on the U.S. for security – survey

“Growing sense” that Europe cannot rely on the U.S. for security – survey

Public support for expanding the EU eastwards is “slipping,” says a major new survey.
It found that majorities in most countries continue to view war torn Kyiv either as an “ally” or a “necessary partner”.
However, there is “markedly less enthusiasm and consensus” on subjects of long-term support such as sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after the war and expanding the EU eastwards.
One of

Read More

Germany and Curaçao Open a World Cup Story About Scale

Germany and Curaçao Open a World Cup Story About Scale

The four-time champions start off in Houston against the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament
Germany’s World Cup kickoff against Curaçao in Houston goes beyond a clash between a European powerhouse and a newcomer. It serves as an early gauge of the expanded tournament’s potential: pressure for established teams, exposure for smaller football nations, and a reminder of

Read More

Bardella warns Brussels he won’t moderate

Bardella warns Brussels he won’t moderate

French presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella wants Brussels to know that if he reaches the Élysée, he won’t follow Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s path from insurgent outsider to pragmatic EU power broker. POLITICO’s Marion Solletty joins Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur to discuss her wide-ranging interview with the far-right leader — including his plans to confront the EU, his pitch to French voter

Read More

CPMR Applauds EU’s Ambitious New Islands Strategy

CPMR Applauds EU’s Ambitious New Islands Strategy

The EU’s newly announced islands strategy has been hailed as a “welcome and historic step.”
The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, marks the first attempt to give Europe’s islands and coastal areas a more coherent policy framework.
The European Commission formally adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities.
This sets out for the first time a coordinate

Read More

Europe Cannot Ignore the Argument of a Post-Gaza World

Europe Cannot Ignore the Argument of a Post-Gaza World

Pankaj Mishra’s book, “The World After Gaza,” is a forceful exploration of historical and moral arguments, influenced by mass civilian suffering. It examines how memory, power, and selective empathy have shaped responses to Gaza. Published in February 2025 by Penguin Press, this 304-page book uses the war in Gaza to address the twentieth century’s moral histories. The publisher descri

Read More

Donald Trump’s Least Favorite Country Might Win His World Cup

Donald Trump’s Least Favorite Country Might Win His World Cup

Sánchez countered Trump’s pro-fossil fuel slogan, “Drill, baby, drill,” with his own: “Green, baby, green,” reflecting his government’s commitment to renewable energy. Madrid aims for 81 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030, surpassing the EU average.
His administration strongly supports immigration on economic and humanitarian grounds and is in the process of legalizing the status o

Read More

Belgium Military Wives Choir: A "Lifeline" for Women

Belgium Military Wives Choir: A "Lifeline" for Women

There’s more to life in the military than you might think.
One of the less well publicised aspects of a career in the armed forces is the constant moving around it may involve.
That is where a military choir really can come into its own…a lifeline for women who have had to move around a lot from base to base with their partners.
It is, of course, a wonderful outlet for those with a bent for singi

Read More

Swiss Voters Poised to Reject Population Limit

Swiss Voters Poised to Reject Population Limit

Initial projections indicate a defeat for a right-wing proposal that risked free movement ties with the European Union
Swiss voters appeared set on Sunday to dismiss a proposal to limit the country’s population to 10 million, reducing immediate pressure on Switzerland’s relationship with the European Union while leaving domestic concerns over housing, infrastructure, and migration that fue

Read More