Drone in Belgium transports tissue sample to hospital for the first time in Europe

In Belgium, a drone transported human tissue from one hospital to another for the first time in Europe. The four test flights between two hospitals in Antwerp were used to possibly use drones to transport tissue samples, blood or medicines in the future, as the Ziekenhuis Network Antwerpen and GZA Ziekenhuizen announced on Tuesday. Accordingly, the test flights were a first in Europe.

During the test flights, cancerous tissue was transported. The two hospitals in Antwerp explained that rapid transport of tissue is helpful, for example, in cancer operations. When tumors are removed, a tissue sample is sent to the laboratory during the operation and analyzed within half an hour to see whether all the affected tissue has been removed or more needs to be removed.

"Transport by drone is much faster, more reliable, more environmentally friendly and cheaper than transport by road," the two hospitals explained. However, it will still be a few years before organs can be transported.

The air distance that the drone should cover between the hospitals was 1.2 kilometers. The drone should take four minutes before it lands on the roof of the target hospital.

According to the two hospitals, the Helicus drone airline, which is conducting the test flight, is the first in Europe to have an operating license to fly over a city and out of the drone operator's field of view. So far, there have been strict requirements for drones on routes where the person piloting them loses sight of them.