La Jornada: They are going for the use of AI and robotics to close gaps in access to health

Guangzhou. Nine out of 10 adults in China suffer from myopia, says Ling Haotian, president of the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC) at SunYat-sen University. This data only reveals one dimension of the tasks that the health system has to deal with eye conditions and that this research institute seeks to solve through technology.

From a robot arm that allows surgery on a retina thousands of kilometers away between patient and surgeon, through a chatbot that facilitates the diagnosis of simple conditions, to a mobile hospital in which images of the eye are taken and then evaluated by artificial intelligence (AI) and by human specialists, are applications that this center has developed as a way in which technology can accelerate medical coverage.

In a tour of the ZOC facilities, a remote-controlled surgical robot stands out that not only allows for remote surgeries, but – according to the researchers at this center – also reduces by up to thirty micromovements from which the human pulse cannot escape. The remote control console is located on the surgeon’s side and the surgical robot is located on the patient’s side; To connect them, only a 5G connection is required.

This robot is still a very young technology. In 2023, the first micrometer-scale remote retina surgery in animals was achieved; This was between Guangzhou and Haikou – 650 kilometers away –. In November of last year the bet was redoubled, a surgeon also located in Guangzhou operated on a person in Urumqi, 4,200 kilometers away.

Also, as part of the task of eliminating the gaps that distance implies in access to a medical diagnosis, the ZOC developed a small bus that carries several devices to take images of the eyes. Before starting the scan, the operator – who is a technician, not a specialist doctor – gives the patient a paper with a QR code.

The devices perform a scan of the eye and this information is uploaded to the ZOC server. In this first part, a previous diagnosis is generated that is communicated by the virtual doctor trained with AI and who lives on a screen on the bus. However, everything goes through an ophthalmologist, who, standing at a distance, corroborates the assessment. After one hour, the patient can scan the QR code on the paper given to them at the beginning of the session and obtain their diagnosis.

ZOC researchers assure that if any condition is detected that requires escalating the consultation to receive specific treatment or surgery, the same system presents the care channels.

“The Mobile Eye Hospital is a key initiative and project driven by young medical professionals. It not only showcases innovation in mobile care and digital health, but also reflects the commitment and quality of young doctors’ capabilities in medical technology transfer, community service and public health,” said a worker at the center.

Another feature of this research center is ChatZOC, a medical AI model that relies on natural language processing and deep learning in image analysis for intelligent queries, accurate screening, and research support. It can recognize 22 pathologies and provide diagnostic recommendations by integrating visual and textual data.

ChatZOC can be used from a smartphone or desktop computer; At the moment it handles eight languages ​​and, according to what is presented by its developers, it has resulted in more than 640 thousand consultations and a 90 percent improvement in effectiveness and detection of some condition. Also, by incorporating eye scanning using a smartphone, 2,000 users per day have been served, with 95 percent accuracy.

The ZOC also produces some pharmacological findings on a large scale. “From the age of 50 there is a 50 percent chance of developing cataracts, and from the age of 90, 100 percent. The only traditional treatment is surgery,” explains Ling, adding that this research center has developed eye drops that delay the appearance of this disease between 10 and 20 years, which is why it is already in phase three of clinical trials in the United States and China.