News | Press Releases

January 14, 2026

Robotic cardiac ultrasound provides care to those in rural and remote Australia

First patients scanned on world-first robotic cardiac ultrasound

Annually, over 1 million ultrasounds in rural and remote areas of Australia are delayed or not performed due to limited accessibility.¹ The scarcity of sonographers in these areas severely impacts access to crucial ultrasound services.² 

For over a decade, rural Australia has faced a significant shortage of trained sonographers. Many remote medical centres lack onsite or local sonographers, instead depending on fly-in flyout professionals who may attend as infrequently as once a month. This results in substantial delays in patient access, diagnosis, and treatment.³ 

The delay not only adds stress for patients but also drives up healthcare costs and results in negative health outcomes, which disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.⁴

To address these challenges, Remote Medical Innovations (RMI) has partnered with Canon Medical Systems ANZ on a remote, robotic cardiac ultrasound project. The companies aim to eliminate barriers and provide quality care to people in remote regions.

Technology bridging the gap in regional health

The new robotic arm system allows a sonographer to operate it remotely, ensuring precise and safe diagnostic ultrasound imaging. Currently being trialled in Longreach and Cloncurry, Queensland, it allows patients to remain in their community and eliminates the need to travel to metropolitan hospitals.

Using a modified video game controller, a sonographer in a clinical hub in Brisbane manoeuvres the robotic arm that has an ultrasound probe attached to it. Images are sent back instantly, meaning the sonographer can quickly report the findings to a cardiologist.

While the initial trial focuses on cardiac ultrasound, efforts are underway to adapt this technology for obstetric and abdominal ultrasound imaging, promising transformative benefits for patients in rural areas.

Reducing rural disparity

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Director of Cardiac Sciences, Dr. Adam Scott, states that there is an urgent need to improve access to life-saving cardiac care for individuals in remote areas, where increasing mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases are a growing concern. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are 70% more likely to die from circulatory diseases than non-Indigenous Australians, and are more likely to live in regional and remote areas.

Dr. Scott points out that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with a significant impact in Queensland, affecting both men and women.⁵ In rural regions, there is a 28.8% higher rate of mortality compared to major cities due to limited access to primary healthcare services, resulting in delayed detection and, on average, seven years of premature mortality.⁶

The introduction of the robotic arm promises transformative benefits for patients, reducing the burdens of long-distance travel and wait times. It provides timely access to necessary treatments and allows local healthcare teams to quickly esca-late cases to specialist services for advanced care.

Reducing the risk of injury for sonographers

In addition to improving rural access, the robotic ultrasound system offers a promising solution to the high rates of work-related MSK injuries experi-enced by sonographers. Manual ultrasound imag-ing often requires sustained pressure and awk-ward positioning, especially with larger patients, contributing to chronic shoulder and upper limb strain. Dr. Adam Scott highlights that this injury burden has led some sonographers to leave the profession entirely. With the robotic system taking over the physical demands of probe manipulation, the technology not only improves patient care but may also help reduce occupational injuries and support greater workforce retention.

Merging high-quality imaging with ground breaking innovation

By incorporating Canon Medical’s Aplio i700 into this project, healthcare providers can deliver high-quality care with confidence. Designed to simplify echocardiography, the Aplio i700 and its comprehensive range of advanced technologies streamline echo procedures, enhancing productivity while optimising image quality, even for challenging examinations.

References

¹ Remote Medical Innovations. (2024). The Challenge in Remote Ultrasound. https://rmioceania.com.au/technology
² BMC Public Health. (2023). Challenges in accessing sonography services in rural Australia:
workforce shortages and diagnostic delays. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-17106-4
³ Australasian Sonographers Association. (2023). Workforce Shortages. https://www.sonographers.org/advocacy/workforce
⁴ International Journal for Equity in Health. (2021). Barriers to Aboriginal people accessing health services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7999419/
⁵ Queensland Health. (2021). Cardiovascular Disease in Queensland.
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/644854/cardiovascular-disease-factsheet.pdf
⁶ Queensland Chief Health Officer Report. (2023). Mortality and Life Expectancy. https://www.choreport.health.qld.gov.au/our-health/mortality