It’s no longer shocking when a physician in South Africa takes a quick look at X-rays for a doc in Houston. But remote medicine took a big step with the creation of a remote-controlled surgical robot name Socrates that can step up to the operating table. The robot from Computer Motion got clearance for clinical work last week from the Food and Drug Administration. The technology is so new that the FDA created a new category for medical devices called “robotic telemedicine devices.” Socrates is designed to allow an off-site surgeon to connect to an operating room, share video and control endoscopic camera positioners.