India’s first robotic system SSI Mantra gets CDSCO head for telesurgery and teleproctoring
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has granted regulatory approval to SSI Mantra, India’s first robotic system for telesurgery and teleproctoring, marking a major leap forward in robotic surgery, the company said on Monday.
Developed by Gurugram-based SS Innovations, the system aims to decentralize and democratize access to surgical professionals. It also addresses critical gaps in health care, especially in remote areas, where access to specialized medical care is often a challenge.
“Telesurgery and teleproctoring has been a dream in the making for over four decades, and today, it has finally come true.
With the technology and bandwidth available now, we can truly diversify and democratize surgical technology, reaching patients and surgeons in the most remote parts of India and the world,” said Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, SS Innovations Founder, Chairman, and CEO.
“This new system is changing, especially in our country, where most people live in small towns and rural areas. By enabling longer surgical interventions, we are reshaping the future of healthcare,” he added.
Recently, SS Innovations launched SSI Mantra 3 — the next generation and the most advanced version of the Mantra surgical robotic system, which also achieved a milestone by completing India’s first human trial of telesurgery.
The operation — a robotic cholecystectomy — took place between the World Laparoscopy Hospital and the SSI Headquarters at a distance of five kilometers, using the seamless connectivity of Airtel’s fiber optic network with no noticeable delay.
Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder. The SSI Mantra 3 is highly advanced and designed to improve surgical precision, efficiency, and patient outcomes by incorporating the latest advances in robotic surgery.
In October, SS Innovations announced the completion of more than 2,000 surgeries, 124 of which were for cardiac patients. The robotic system ensured zero deaths and no adverse events related to the device.
The system was also used in 789 general surgeries, 621 urological surgeries, and 269 gynecology procedures, demonstrating its versatility across specialties.
