VB Salon No.53: Application and Development of Domestic Surgical Robots

Over the past decade or more, the da Vinci Surgical System has dominated the surgical robotics market, with no single competing product emerging globally to rival it.

Recently, Monarch, the flexible surgical robot under Auris Health, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, received FDA approval for new indications, drawing renewed attention to Monarch following Johnson & Johnson’s $3.4 billion acquisition. Leveraging two high-volume indications—lung biopsy and urinary stone removal—the Monarch surgical robot is poised to rival the da Vinci Surgical System and become the second most widely used multi-specialty surgical robot globally.

Exploration of natural orifice surgical robots is still in its early stages. The development trajectories of earlier-established laparoscopic and orthopedic surgical robots demonstrate that the ultimate value of surgical robots lies in mass production, a focus on performance growth, and commercialization. Whether natural orifice surgical robots can replace the market space occupied by flexible endoscopes remains to be verified over time.

Performance and Key Issues of Clinical Surgical Robots?

Current Application Status of Interventional Surgical Robots?

Investor Perspectives on Surgical Robots?

Discussion on Methods to Support Clinical Trials and Market Expansion?

To focus on the current development status and major issues of domestically produced surgical robots,VCBeat, in partnership with Guangzhou High-Tech Industrial Development Zone Science and Technology Holding Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Gaoxin Kekong”)in GuangzhouHost“Surgical Robots” Offline Themed Salon EventRepresentative R&D and manufacturing enterprises, investment institutions, and renowned experts in the sector gathered together, engaging in vigorous discussions to jointly explore the development opportunities for “Chinese-made surgical robots” in practical applications.

Guangzhou Aimuyi Technology Co., Ltd., established in 2017, is one of the few companies globally and currently the only enterprise in China capable of developing high-precision robotic software systems. It has become a global leader in the fields of surgical navigation and robotic positioning systems.

Aimui has been dedicated to the research and development, production, and sales of precision navigation and positioning systems. As a global leading provider of near-infrared optical tracking systems, it offers enterprises comprehensive solutions and technical services for surgical robots. During its R&D journey, Aimui has successively won the First Prize in the Panyu District “Qinglan Plan” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and the Award for Most Market Potential in the Biomedical Field at the Guangzhou Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. It has also obtained various honors and certifications, including recognition as a National Technology-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprise, certification for its Intellectual Property Management System, ISO9001 Quality Management System certification, designation as a Guangzhou Science and Technology Little Giant, and accreditation as a “Double Soft” enterprise.

Aimu Yi successfully developed China’s only near-infrared optical positioning system in 2019, which has been widely used in surgical navigation, surgical robots, and other medical scenarios dominated by “precise positioning.” Meanwhile, the near-infrared optical positioning system is also applied in the industrial sector, supporting the upgrade of domestic robotic products and creating more intelligent application scenarios for industrial customers.

Founded in 1980, the Guangdong Society of Biomedical Engineering is a non-profit academic legal entity voluntarily formed by scientific and technical professionals in the field of biomedical engineering and registered in accordance with the law. It serves as an important social force in advancing the cause of science and technology in biomedical engineering within Guangdong Province.

Its primary scope of work includes: facilitating multi-form academic exchanges, personnel training, project evaluation, technology transfer, organizing exhibitions, publishing books and journals, and undertaking government-delegated functions. The Society currently has nearly 3,720 registered members, 14 institutional member units, 35 branches, and 5 science and technology service stations. Under the leadership of its Council, the Society is united in purpose, bringing together a broad community of biomedical engineering scientists and engineers. It has expanded the disciplinary field of biomedical engineering, participated in governmental decision-making consultations on relevant projects, and made significant efforts and achieved commendable results in promoting the integration of industry, academia, and research, as well as advancing the development of the medical device industry in Guangdong Province.

Yuanhua Intelligence, founded in Shenzhen in 2018, is positioned as an innovator in the R&D and precision manufacturing of high-end specialized intelligent medical equipment. Since its establishment, the company has developed an advanced portfolio of surgical robots led by its total joint replacement surgical assistance robot, covering various clinical applications in orthopedics, gastroenterology, and other specialties.

In April 2022, the BoneSaint Navigation and Positioning System for Knee Arthroplasty received marketing approval (NMPA Registration No. 20223010510), becoming the first and only open-implant data total knee arthroplasty robotic system to enter the NMPA’s Innovative Medical Device Special Review Procedure (Green Channel) and obtain market authorization. A multi-joint arthroplasty robotic system developed on the same platform is expected to receive marketing approval in 2022, and clinical protocol discussions for the spinal surgery robotic system have already been initiated.

Yuanhua Intelligence has independently developed its surgical robotic arms, navigation systems, and all associated software, making it the only company in China with in-house R&D capabilities for all core components of orthopedic surgical robots.

Shenzhen Aibo Medical Robot Co., Ltd. is headquartered at the Zhonghaixin Technology Park in Longgang, Shenzhen, with a second R&D center located at the Nanshan Science and Technology Park. The company occupies approximately 2,000 square meters of combined R&D and office space. It was founded by a team comprising experts from the National Overseas High-Level Talent Introduction Program, a foreign member of the Japanese Academy of Engineering, and an IEEE Fellow. Its core technological achievements originate from China’s National “863 Program.”

Academician Guo Shuxiang’s team is one of the world’s leading research groups in the field of vascular interventional surgical robots. The company holds over 100 domestic and international patents, with multiple original technologies reaching internationally advanced levels.

In 2020, the company secured second place in the Biopharmaceutical Industry category of the Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, was selected for the National Finals of the China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and received the title of “Excellent Enterprise.” Currently, Aibo Medical has become a leading enterprise in the field of vascular interventional surgical robots. In 2021, it was included in the Top 100 List of the “Science and Technology Innovation China” Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Conference.

Beijing Weimai Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. shoulders the responsibility of driving the rise of high-end national medical brands and is recognized as a Beijing “Little Giant” enterprise specializing in specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative technologies.

Vimai Medical specializes in providing interventional diagnosis and treatment equipment and comprehensive end-to-end solutions, with extensive experience in the R&D, design, and industrialization of digital vascular imaging products. Its product portfolio covers multiple interventional lines, including large-scale Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) systems, mobile X-ray C-arms, all-in-one mobile X-ray C-arm systems, and interventional robots. Vimai Medical is committed to stringent quality control, addressing critical clinical pain points, and continuously optimizing its offerings for the local market, while adhering to the highest international standards to ensure excellence in product quality.

The company has partnered with an interventional physician group to introduce the distinctive “comprehensive service” concept, actively expanding into areas such as departmental operations and physician training within the interventional field. It has obtained ISO 13485 certification, while its full range of interventional products have secured CE and NMPA approvals. Adhering to innovation-driven development, the company completes a product innovation cycle on average every two years. It stands at the forefront of global research and development in interventional surgical robotics, ranking among only five companies worldwide engaged in both the R&D and manufacturing of such systems. Moreover, it holds the second-highest number of pioneering invention patents in the international robotics sector.

Weimai Medical closely follows the national "Belt and Road" strategic policy, completing the acquisition of Italy's EC Company through various forms such as overseas mergers and acquisitions, establishing global dual centers, and achieving an international strategic layout for product R&D, manufacturing, and market sales in "Belt and Road" countries across Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and East Asia.

Guangzhou High-Tech Science and Technology Holding Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “High-Tech Sci-Tech Holdings”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guangzhou Development District Holding Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Guangkai Holdings”). Established in 1998, the company has a registered capital exceeding RMB 6.6 billion, total assets amounting to RMB 17.7 billion, 20 wholly-owned, participating, or holding enterprises, cumulative investments surpassing RMB 12 billion, and operates property with a total floor area of over 200,000 square meters.

As the strategic equity investment platform for science and technology under Guangzhou Huangpu District, Guangzhou Development District, and Guangzhou Kaifa Holdings, Gaoxin KeKong focuses on strategic investments in biopharmaceuticals and optoelectronic display technologies. It has established a biopharmaceutical industrial ecosystem through its “Five-One” strategic layout, investing in leading industry players such as BeiGene, InnoCare Pharma, and Sinocelltech. The company operates several world-class specialized parks, including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Biosecurity Innovation Port and the Greater Bay Area High-Performance Medical Device Innovation Center. It holds controlling interest in one listed company, Leadman (300289.SZ). Leveraging the synergistic advantages of Guangzhou Kaifa Holdings’ business segments, Gaoxin KeKong has built a comprehensive sci-tech financial services system and jointly established a series of market-oriented industrial funds with renowned investment institutions such as Lilly Asia Ventures, Hillhouse Capital, and GF Xinde. Meanwhile, Gaoxin KeKong partners with LG, a Fortune Global 500 company, to jointly build the “Global Display Capital.”

“VB Think Tank” is one of VCBeat’s flagship events, serving as a face-to-face platform centered on exploring solutions in the healthcare sector, with the aim of “focusing on practical challenges and discussing industry trends.” The event conducts in-depth discussions, analyses, and exchanges around the current development status of core themes, addressing encountered difficulties, pain points, and barriers. Meanwhile, it gains a thorough understanding of the resource endowments of participating enterprises, fostering practical collaborations through intellectual exchange.