5G-enabled Surgery Planning with Holograms and Educational Streaming for NKUA Aretaieio HospitaL (5G-SHEAL)

Focusing on healthcare and education, this project will enable the provision of educational tools, remote patient monitoring and a digital platform for surgical preparation.

The purpose of the project is to improve surgery planning, enhance collaboration, and provide medical training.

To achieve this, the project will deploy a 5G standalone (SA) network at the Aretaeio University Hospital, Greece.

What will it provide?

The project will enable the provision of high-quality 5G connectivity to the doctors, students and patients of the Aretaeio University Hospital in Athens, serving the operating rooms, surgical wards, education centre, and radiology-radiotherapy departments. The project will thus facilitate the digital transformation of the University Hospital, improving surgical outcome, supporting patients' treatment, and advancing medical students' education.

How will it work?

The project's 5G SA network will enable the implementation of three use cases relating to healthcare and three relating to medical education:

Advanced healthcare use cases:

1. Patient monitoring - The network will enable the use of smart wearables to track real-time biometric data, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, blood pressure and GPS location. Data are transmitted to a 24-hour monitoring centre through real-time video communication, ensuring continuous patient oversight and immediate response capabilities.
2. Oncology imaging in operating rooms - The network will support real-time imaging to evaluate critical structures in complex oncological cases, such as liver, pancreas, biliary system and sarcoma surgeries. Surgical planning is continuously updated based on intra-operative findings and 3D imaging data, enhancing precision and outcomes.
3. Imaging-related treatment - The network will improve real-time visualisation of holograms during surgery, radiotherapy and stereotactic procedures performed by interventional radiologists. This application provides enhanced visual guidance, improving accuracy and clinical outcomes.

Medical education use cases:

1. Surgical residency core training - The network will provide trainees with access to 3D imaging both before and during operations, enhancing their understanding of critical procedural steps. Trainees can also virtually observe the operating team's perspective, gaining significant surgical exposure and insights.
2. Medical students' education - The network will enable real-time access to patients' medical records during ward rounds, improving understanding of post-operative care and the complex decision-making processes required for quality medical care.
3. Patients' education - The network will facilitate patients' understanding of medical conditions and treatment options through 3D holographic images. This interactive and visually enhanced approach helps convey complex medical information more effectively, empowering patients with better comprehension of their healthcare journey.

How will it be built?

The project will deploy a 5G SA network at the Aretaeio University Hospital in Athens, through the use of 3.5 GHz frequency band, and comprising:

• high-bandwidth radio units;
• edge cloud servers;
• ultrasound imaging;
• holographic devices.

How can I find out more about the project?

The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)

Contact HaDEA

Read more information

• Visit the project page in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (europa.eu)
• Visit the project website and social media (Linkedin, x.com)

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