Surgeon performs 'world first' remote brain surgery

A doctor has performed the first ever brain surgery over a 5G mobile network, according to Chinese media.

A patient with Parkinson's disease allegedly had an implant put in their brain by a doctor who was more than 1,800miles away (3,000km).

The doctor who did the operation said the new technology could make it easier for medics to operate on people who live in more remote areas and can't travel.

Dr Ling Zhipei, a surgeon at the People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing, did the procedure while thousands of miles away, according to China Global Television Network (CGTN).


Using surgical robots he inserted a deep brain stimulation implant – a device used to try and control the tremors Parkinson's patients suffer – into the patient's brain.

The procedure was carried out on Saturday and lasted about three hours.

It isn't clear exactly how Dr Ling controlled the machines from his location, only that he was able to use mobile internet to move them 'almost in real time'.