In countries ravaged by conflict, providing international medical expertise on the ground can be almost impossible.
在那些局势动荡的国家,提供现场的国际性专业医疗救助几乎是不太可能的。
But a new software, called Proximie, is enabling surgeons to provide help from wherever they are in the world, all through the screen of an iPad.
但是一个名为Proximie的新软件,使得世界各地的外科医生仅仅通过iPad屏幕就可以提供帮助。
"I see on my screen the surgical feed that is being captured by the camera in Gaza and I'm able to draw on my screen the incision that needs to be done," says Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sitta, Head of Plastic Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. "Like being in the room"
美国贝鲁特大学医学中心整形外科的领头人加桑·阿布席塔医生表示:“我屏幕上的手术是由加沙的相机拍摄,我能在屏幕上看到需要处理的切口。就好像是在一个房间里一样。”
Abu-Sitta has already used the Proximie software to lead two operations in the Gaza strip from his base in Beirut. From hundreds of miles away he showed colleagues how to negotiate a blast injury and operate on a congenital anomaly affecting the hand.
阿布席塔已经通过Proximie软件,在贝鲁特的基地远程进行了两例加沙地带的手术。从数百英里外,他跟同事协商如何处理爆炸伤和操作先天性异常且影响手部的手术。
The software means that surgeons can demonstrate -- in real time -- the actions needing to be taken on the front line.
这个软件意味着,外科医生可以实时的示范这些需要马上在现场执行的行动。
The procedure uses two smart phones or tablets connected to the internet which show a live camera feed of the operation. The surgeon sees this, and then marks on their device where to make incisions.
手术过程中需使用两部智能手机或平板电脑连接到互联网,还要有展示手术现场活动的摄像机。医生看着显示屏,然后在设备上标注切口位置。
"That drawing shows up on my colleague's screen in Gaza and he follows my drawings by making the incisions where they appear on the screen," says Dr. Abu-Sitta, "It really is the equivalent of being there in the room with them."
“我绘制出的标记,就能显示在加沙我的同事的屏幕上,他就能根据我的指引进行手术。” 阿布席塔说,“这真的就像我也在那个房间和他们在一起一样。”
With two thirds of the world's population lacking access to safe surgery, the time is ripe to develop new techniques to reach more remote areas.
当前全球有三分之二的人口无法接受安全的外科手术,所以,开发新技术,以使更多偏远地区受益的时机已经成熟。
Previously, Abu-Sitta and his staff were trying to help overseas surgeons by sending them audio recordings, photos and X-rays using the online messenger WhatsApp. But the new software is far more interactive, providing detailed images and patient information throughout the surgery.
此前,阿布席塔和他的团队曾设想通过运用网络即时聊天工具WhatsApp传递视频、图片和X-射线资料以协助海外远程手术。不过,现在这款新的软件互动性更强,通过手术能提供更详细的图像和患者的信息。
"We wanted to push the idea that with only the minimum hardware, and minimum infrastructure you can still pull it off," says Abu-Sitta, "With just two tablets, iPad to iPad, we're able to perform this surgery."
他说,“我们想推动的理念是,通过配备最少的硬件和最少的基础设施就可以实现。仅用两个平板电脑,iPad对iPad,我们就能够完成手术。”
Whether it's used for education or to conduct delicate surgeries in conflict zones, internet enabled software such as Proximie could be the future of surgery.
无论是用于教育还是用于在冲突地区进行精细的手术,互联网使得像Proximie这样的软件有可能成为外科手术的未来。