The Infrastructure Behind Modern Robotic Surgery

The following is a guest article by Effi Goldstein, Director of Business Development at Valens Semiconductor and President of the HDBaseT Alliance

Surgical robotics has evolved from experimental technology into a cornerstone of modern operating rooms. These systems offer surgeons unprecedented precision and control, delivering tangible advantages for patients, ranging from faster healing periods to less invasive procedures and enhanced clinical results. 

Yet, as these systems become increasingly prevalent, an underlying issue becomes clear: robotic surgical platforms can only perform as reliably as the connectivity networks that support them.

The Connectivity Market for Robotic Surgeries

Industry analysts forecast the surgical robotics sector will expand to $20 billion by 2030, propelled by healthcare institutions seeking cutting-edge instruments that enhance procedural accuracy. Central to this technological leap is the capacity to provide surgeons with instantaneous three-dimensional visualizations of operative sites. Stereoscopic imaging surpasses conventional flat displays by recreating spatial depth, enabling surgical teams to navigate intricate procedures with heightened assurance.

However, this sophistication comes with strict technical prerequisites. 3D robotic procedures depend on the synchronized operation of numerous high-definition cameras, specialized sensors, and advanced image processing units. These components must transmit massive data volumes to maintain high visualization quality. Any connectivity failure, whether from latency issues, electromagnetic disruption, or signal degradation, doesn’t simply interrupt workflow; it potentially endangers patient safety.

The Critical Nature of Surgical Connectivity

Operating room applications carry stakes incomparably higher than typical connected technologies. While disrupted consumer video applications might produce buffering or reduced quality, connectivity lapses during surgery can undermine procedural precision with potentially harmful results. 

The connectivity challenges intensify as robotic surgical adoption expands. These systems must accommodate extraordinary bandwidth requirements generated by simultaneous ultra-high-definition video feeds, transmitted without compression to maintain the image fidelity surgeons depend on for critical decisions. The designs need to fit into the tight spaces inside robotic manipulators, which integrate sensors, cameras, surgical instruments, lighting, hydro surgery systems, and insufflators

Robotic surgical systems require instantaneous communication with zero perceptible delay. Even a small lag can disrupt the surgeon’s spatial coordination and jeopardize procedural outcomes. These demands create an environment where connectivity must simultaneously deliver exceptional throughput and unwavering reliability.

Looking to the Automotive Industry for a Standards-Based Connectivity Approach

MIPI A-PHY is a long-reach SerDes physical layer designed to carry high-speed uncompressed or lightly compressed video, control, and optionally power over a single cable. The spec defines asymmetric point-to-point or daisy-chain links with a high-speed downlink for video (up to 16 Gbps in current versions) and a lower-speed uplink for control (hundreds of Mbps), enabling native transport of protocols like MIPI CSI-2 and DSI-2.

A-PHY combines fixed, very low latency on the order of a few microseconds with an ultra-low packet error rate of around 10-19, so the probability of a visible video error over a system lifetime is essentially negligible. This is achieved via a local, time-bounded PHY-level retransmission mechanism that can correct transient disturbances without involving higher layers or adding unpredictable delay.

Advanced driver-assisted systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems pushed A-PHY to operate reliably in harsh EMI/EMC conditions, with temperature extremes, vibration, connector wear, and aggressive regulatory limits like CISPR 25. Compliant with the harsh automotive functional safety standards (ISO 26262), the technology is likely to be more than sufficient for international technical standards for safety and performance of medical electrical equipment (IEC 60601).

Direct Parallels to Medical Imaging

As in automotive, surgical robotic systems must move large amounts of sensor data through confined spaces packed with electromechanical actuators, motor drives, energy-delivery tools, and RF or ultrasonic equipment that create intense electromagnetic noise.​

A-PHY’s ability to maintain an ultra-low error rate on the road maps well to operating rooms, where electrosurgical units or defibrillators can inject short, high-energy interference bursts into cabling. The same link-level retransmission and resilience that protect an automotive link from EMI-induced errors can help prevent dropped frames or corrupted imagery at exactly the wrong moment in a procedure.

The Path Forward

Robotic surgery amplifies surgical capabilities through enhanced instrumentation, which is why connectivity must receive mission-critical consideration. Just as robotic technologies extend human surgical capabilities, high-performance connectivity enhances these robotic technologies.

The robotic surgery transformation delivers substantial value to both patients and healthcare organizations. By satisfying rigorous specifications for data throughput, response time, spatial efficiency, and electromagnetic immunity, connectivity infrastructure will function as the essential foundation for surgical robotics innovation. Within this mission-critical context, flawless information transmission becomes a vital lifeline technology.

About Effi Goldstein

Effi leads Valens’ medical market offering, focusing on building strategic partnerships and driving adoption of Valens technology in the healthcare sector. As President of the HDBaseT Alliance, she oversees the organization’s strategic direction and industry collaboration, working with member companies to advance the adoption of HDBaseT technology worldwide. She brings extensive experience in the audio-video and hi-tech sectors, providing in-depth technical expertise to industry stakeholders. Effi holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Mathematics from Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.