AIIMS Performs First Tele-Ultrasound Test in Antarctica

AIIMS Performs First Tele-Ultrasound Test in Antarctica

Why in News? 

In a historic breakthrough, doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) successfully conducted the world’s first real-time tele-ultrasound test on volunteers at India’s Antarctic research station Maitri, revolutionising healthcare access in extreme and remote environments.

AIIMS Tele-Ultrasound Test in Antarctica

• About: Tele-Ultrasound is an advanced form of telemedicine where diagnostic ultrasound scans are performed remotely by specialists using robotics and communication networks. A doctor controls a robotic probe from a distant location while live imaging is transmitted instantly.

• • • The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) successfully conducted the world’s first live Tele-Robotic Ultrasonography (TRUS) demonstration on volunteers located nearly 12,000–14,000 km away at India’s Antarctic research base Maitri Research Station. 
    • It demonstrated that specialist radiological care can be delivered across continents, especially in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure, extreme cold and geographical isolation.

• Institutional Collaboration: This national-level innovation was developed jointly by AIIMS Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, I‑Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC), National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital.

• Earlier Trials: The technology was originally developed during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021–22) to enable contactless diagnostics in infectious environments. Subsequent clinical feasibility trials confirmed that high-quality ultrasound imaging could be conducted remotely.

• Technology Used: Doctors used a haptic control device whose hand movements were replicated by a robotic arm holding an ultrasound probe at the Antarctic station. A critical innovation is force-sensing/force feedback, which allows the doctor in Delhi to “feel” resistance as the probe presses against the patient’s body. 

• Demonstration: Using satellite-based internet connectivity, the system transmitted real-time imaging data back to AIIMS for interpretation. The test demonstrated procedures like abdominal scans, FAST trauma scans, echocardiography and Doppler studies remotely.

Applications of Tele‑Ultrasound Technology (TUS)

• Space Exploration and Astronaut Health Monitoring: In extreme environments like the International Space Station (ISS), ultrasound is the only medical imaging device available and is used under remote expert guidance to perform cardiac, ocular and abdominal scans. This enables health monitoring of crew members without a physician on board, supporting long‑duration missions.
• Remote Disaster Response and Emergency Care: Tele‑ultrasound plays a critical role in pre‑hospital emergency and disaster zones (e.g., earthquake, flood relief) where local medical expertise is scarce. Portable systems, often combined with 5G networks and AI guidance, enable real‑time diagnosis at the site, improving triage accuracy and reducing time to critical interventions for trauma or internal injuries.
• Veterinary Medicine and Wildlife Health Management: Tele‑ultrasound is increasingly adopted in large‑scale livestock operations, rural veterinary clinics, zoos and wildlife conservation programs. It improves animal welfare, reduces economic losses in agriculture, and supports health assessments in endangered species with limited local veterinary expertise.
• Military and Defence Medical Support: Military medical units use tele‑ultrasound for battlefield triage, enabling medics to perform scans under remote command from base hospitals. These systems are designed to operate on rugged, satellite‑linked networks, helping rapidly assess injuries on the front lines and inform evacuation decisions.
• Agricultural and Rural Livelihood Support: In widely dispersed rural areas where specialists are unavailable, tele‑ultrasound ensures prenatal care and reproductive health monitoring for humans and livestock alike. Tele‑ultrasound programs in rural South Korea boosted early fetal anomaly detection by ~42% and reduced unnecessary transfers by over 30%, enhancing both public health and local healthcare sustainability. 
• Education, Training and Skill Transfer: Tele‑ultrasound is increasingly used in remote training environments, connecting urban experts with trainees in underserved regions. Studies show even novice operators, under remote guidance, can acquire diagnostically valid images over distances > 750 km, expanding diagnostic capacity and skills transfer.

Significance of AIIMS Tele‑Ultrasound Achievement

• Enhancing Scientific Missions: Maitri Research Station, India’s second permanent Antarctic base established in 1989, hosts multidisciplinary research in glaciology, atmospheric science, biology, and geology, contributing critical data to global climate and earth system science studies. The integration of advanced tele‑ultrasound supports these scientific missions.

• Strengthening Polar Healthcare: Healthcare in Antarctica is constrained by extreme cold, isolation and limited infrastructure; even small medical emergencies can escalate due to logistic constraints. The tele‑robotic ultrasound system enhances on‑site emergency care and early diagnosis, enabling prompt clinical decisions without physical specialist presence.

• Boosting Scientific Leadership: The deployment of this system reflects India’s growing capabilities in AI, robotics, satellite communication and digital health systems, placing the country at the forefront of frontier science integration. It demonstrates practical outcomes of interdisciplinary research and high‑end innovation under a “whole‑of‑government”.

• Market Growth and Economic Expansion: The global tele-ultrasound solution market is experiencing rapid growth, projected to rise from USD 1.5 billion in 2024 to USD 3.2 billion by 2033, reflecting a CAGR of 9.2%. This expansion is driven by a surge in chronic diseases and a global shift toward Value-Based Healthcare. Adoption is particularly high in North America and India, fueled by a 31% CAGR in India’s overall telemedicine sector as infrastructure improves.