Russia Approves First Digital Surgical Assistant for Kidney Operations
An AI-powered system is changing how kidney surgery is performed.
Russia has registered its first digital assistant designed to support oncological surgeons operating on the kidneys. The platform, called Sechenov.AI_nephro, was developed at Sechenov University and uses artificial intelligence to create a patient-specific 3D model of the organ. This allows surgeons to operate with extremely high precision while preserving the kidney.
A Navigation Map for the Surgeon
The new technology is reshaping treatment approaches. Previously, kidney removal was required for roughly every second patient with a tumor. Now, thanks to advanced digital tools, the organ is preserved in nine out of ten cases. The virtual 3D model effectively serves as a navigation map for the surgeon.
A Virtual Operation Before the Real One
The platform automatically analyzes medical images, identifies the tumor, all blood vessels supplying it, and the ureters. This enables the surgeon to plan the procedure in advance, in a virtual environment. Using the platform reduces surgery time and lowers the risk of recurrence.
The technology has already been used to treat more than 400 patients in Russia and Belarus. It has undergone official registration with Russia’s healthcare regulator, Roszdravnadzor, clearing the way for deployment in clinics across the country.
