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Zero-gravity surgery 'a success' Zero-gravity surgery 'a success'
(20 minutes later)
French doctors have carried out a successful operation on a human under "weightless" conditions in an adapted aircraft, the chief surgeon has said. French doctors say they have carried out a successful operation on a human under "weightless" conditions in an adapted aircraft.
The trial is being seen as a first step to performing surgery in space.The trial is being seen as a first step to performing surgery in space.
The doctors removed a benign tumour from the arm of a volunteer as their plane made a series of swoops to mimic a reduced-gravity environment. The surgeons removed a benign tumour from the arm of a volunteer as their plane made a series of swoops to mimic a reduced-gravity environment.
The surgeons were working strapped to the sides of the plane while the patient was held inside a plastic tent. The doctors were strapped down for the procedure which was done inside a plastic tent.
Specially designed instruments were fitted with magnets to attach them to the metal operating table.Specially designed instruments were fitted with magnets to attach them to the metal operating table.
Earthly spin-offs href="#map" class="bodl">Click here to see how weightlessness was achieved
'Feasibility test'
The three-hour flight above south-west France used a modified Airbus A300 known as "Zero-G", which flies parabolic curves that give its passengers 20-second periods of weightlessness.The three-hour flight above south-west France used a modified Airbus A300 known as "Zero-G", which flies parabolic curves that give its passengers 20-second periods of weightlessness.
The patient was reportedly administered a local anaesthetic before take-off at 0930 local time (0730 GMT). Now we know that a human being can be operated on in space without too many difficulties Dominique MartinChief surgeon Patient Philippe Sanchot was reportedly administered a local anaesthetic before take-off at 0930 local time (0730 GMT).
The operation took no more than 11 minutes, with 31 zero gravity sequences lasting 22 seconds each. The flight took just over three hours. The operation took no more than 11 minutes, with 31 zero gravity sequences lasting 22 seconds each.
Both patient and medical team were trained to cope with this free-fall environment in machines similar to those used by astronauts.Both patient and medical team were trained to cope with this free-fall environment in machines similar to those used by astronauts.
"Since February we have been rehearsing this operation on the ground and in the plane. It is all crystal clear in our heads," said chief surgeon Dominique Martin, quoted by AFP news agency, before the flight began.
It is the first time such an operation has been carried out on a human being.It is the first time such an operation has been carried out on a human being.
The French doctors have already operated on a rat in zero-gravity The operation was performed in 20-second periodsChief surgeon Dominique Martin said the operation "went ahead without any particular difficulty".
Earlier this year, Mr Martin and his team mended an artery in a rat's tail 0.5mm in diameter. "We weren't trying to perform technical feats but to carry out a feasibility test," he said, quoted by AFP news agency.
It is part of a long-term project to study the possibility of carrying out surgery during long-distance space flights, using robots in the spacecraft, guided by doctors on Earth via a satellite link. "Now we know that a human being can be operated on in space without too many difficulties."
Surgical team member Professor Pierre Vaida, from Bordeaux Hospital, told the BBC: "The space station today is about 400km from the Earth, so it's very easy to have an astronaut come back in an emergency [to the] ground. With two hours of continuous weightlessness, surgeons could perform an appendectomy, Mr Martin added.
Earlier this year, the team mended an artery in a rat's tail.
The next phase of the programme will be to carry out an operation using a robot controlled from the ground by satellite.
This experiment should take place within a year, Mr Martin explained.
Earthly spin-offs
The trials are part of a long-term project to study the possibility of carrying out surgery during long-distance space flights.
The patient (L) was administered a local anaesthetic before the flightSurgical team member Professor Pierre Vaida, from Bordeaux Hospital, told the BBC: "The space station today is about 400km from the Earth, so it's very easy to have an astronaut come back in an emergency [to the] ground.
"When we are out of Earth's gravitational attraction, it takes several days, at least, to come back. So it will be necessary to organise tele-medicine and tele-surgery to be able to take care of astronaut health.""When we are out of Earth's gravitational attraction, it takes several days, at least, to come back. So it will be necessary to organise tele-medicine and tele-surgery to be able to take care of astronaut health."
The researchers say there could also be spin-offs for remote medicine on Earth.The researchers say there could also be spin-offs for remote medicine on Earth.
The equipment could be used for emergencies in confined locations such as caves or in buildings toppled by earthquakes.The equipment could be used for emergencies in confined locations such as caves or in buildings toppled by earthquakes.
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