AIIMS Conducts First Remote Ultrasound in Antarctica

 



In a major leap for telemedicine, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, have conducted a real-time ultrasound examination on a patient located nearly 12,000 km away at India’s Maitri research station in Antarctica. The breakthrough demonstrates the feasibility of delivering specialist diagnostic care in one of the world’s most hostile and remote environments.

Tele-Robotic Ultrasound System Demonstrated

The procedure was enabled by a tele-robotic diagnostic system that allows specialists in India to remotely operate ultrasound equipment stationed in Antarctica. The initiative marks the first known deployment of such a system at an Antarctic research station globally. It was developed through collaboration between the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), AIIMS, IIT Delhi and technology startups.

NCPOR Director Thamban Meloth stated that the innovation positions India at the forefront of medical technology in polar regions. The demonstration validated both technical feasibility under extreme Antarctic conditions and seamless real-time connectivity between AIIMS and the Maitri station.

Addressing Critical Healthcare Gaps

Healthcare delivery in Antarctica remains uniquely challenging. Research personnel endure extreme cold, prolonged isolation and limited medical infrastructure. Although trained medical officers and basic diagnostic tools are available at stations, access to super-specialist consultation during emergencies such as trauma or suspected internal injuries is constrained by geography.

The new system enables remote experts to guide or directly perform scans, strengthening rapid diagnosis and informing decisions on medical evacuation. Around 25–30 scientists and support staff remain stationed at Maitri during the harsh Antarctic winter.

Collaboration and Operational Support


NCPOR facilitated the transportation and deployment of the system from Goa to Antarctica. The successful trial marks a significant milestone in India’s three-decade-long scientific presence in Antarctica under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The technology is also expected to benefit high-altitude regions, offshore platforms, disaster zones, island territories and rural areas across India.

Origins in Pandemic Innovation

The tele-robotic ultrasound system was first clinically used during the Covid-19 pandemic at AIIMS, New Delhi, for imaging infected patients. Its adaptation for polar conditions underscores the expanding scope of digital health technologies and India’s growing capabilities in remote and extreme-environment healthcare delivery.

#AIIMS
#RemoteUltrasound
#Telemedicine
#AntarcticaMission
#DigitalHealthcare
#MedicalInnovation
#ExtremeMedicine
#HealthcareTechnology
#ISROCollaboration
#GlobalHealthInnovation

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