PRT Medical's Laparoscopic Surgical Robot Technology Wins National Technology Invention Award; Company Files for Hong Kong IPO

On November 3, the 2020 National Science and Technology Awards Conference was officially held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.Beijing Panther Healthcare’s project, “Key Technologies and Applications of Laparoscopic Minimally Invasive Surgical Robots and Instruments,” was awarded the Second Prize in the 2020 National Technology Invention Awards.

Previously, Panther Healthcare was awarded the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award for its R&D achievements in the field of minimally invasive oncology, and the company was recognized as a Beijing “Specialized, Refined, Differential, and Innovative” SME in 2021. These accolades affirm Panther Healthcare’s R&D capabilities. From initially distributing French surgical sutures to independently developing, manufacturing, and selling staplers, laparoscopic staplers, and intelligent electric staplers, and further to launching laparoscopic surgical robots, Panther’s business landscape in the field of minimally invasive surgical instruments has gradually become clear.

Since its establishment in 2002, Panther Healthcare has been driving iterative product upgrades, building a product portfolio centered on surgical staplers and complemented by other surgical instruments, including disposable hernia repair devices, trocars, tissue closure clips, and ultrasonic scalpels.The company’s intelligent electric endoscopic stapler and ultrasonic scalpel have obtained CE certification. Notably, the intelligent electric endoscopic stapler was recognized as an innovative medical device by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in July 2021 and subsequently received market approval in October of the same year.

Meanwhile, Panther Healthcare boasts strong commercial promotion capabilities. In 2020, the company’s sales network covered more than 1,200 hospitals in China, including over 400 Grade III Class A hospitals, and its products were exported to more than 60 countries and regions, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada, and Brazil.

“In 2020, Panther Healthcare ranked first among Chinese stapler manufacturers in terms of sales volume, and led in export sales for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2020.”

In the stapler market, Panther Healthcare’s influence speaks for itself. Why would such a company choose to develop laparoscopic surgical robots, and what are the surgical robots they have developed like?

Laparoscopic surgery is an emerging minimally invasive procedure that typically requires only 3 to 5 small incisions in the body for the insertion of surgical instruments and laparoscopes. It offers advantages such as minimal trauma and rapid postoperative recovery. With the widespread adoption of minimally invasive techniques and the continued improvement in surgical precision, robotic surgical systems have been developed.

Laparoscopic surgical robots are the product of combining laparoscopic technology with robotic technology. They offer advantages such as high operational precision, strong flexibility, good repeatability, and resistance to human physiological factors like fatigue and emotional fluctuations. These systems significantly improve the efficiency and quality of minimally invasive surgery while effectively reducing the physical exertion of the surgical team.

Targeting the minimally invasive endoscopic market, Panther Healthcare has a keen “sense of smell.”

It is reported that as early as 2011, the company recognized the potential of the surgical robotics sector and began developing surgical robotic technologies. As a rising star in the surgical robotics industry, Wisent Medical has recruited multiple influential experts in the field of robotics and accumulated technical expertise in mechanical systems, imaging, control algorithms, communications, simulation, and surgical instrument development. After thoroughly evaluating Wisent Medical’s outstanding R&D capabilities, its ability to address clinical pain points, its capacity for translating research into practical applications, and its product commercialization capabilities, Panther Healthcare decided to invest in and take a controlling stake in the company, thereby formally entering the field of laparoscopic surgical robots.

“Vicent Medical’s leading robotic technology, combined with Panther Healthcare’s commercial capabilities—including its production chain and global sales network—has achieved effective resource integration.“Panther Healthcare will focus on thoracic and general surgical procedures, striving to achieve a leapfrog advancement for domestically produced laparoscopic surgical robots.”

China's laparoscopic surgical robot market is also opening its arms to domestic companies such as Panther Healthcare.

Globally, the surgical robot market remains in its early stages of development, with low penetration rates. Laparoscopic surgical robots represent the fastest-growing and most commercially successful segment within this market. In China’s surgical robot sector, laparoscopic surgical robots account for nearly 75% of the market share. From 2015 to 2020, the number of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries in China increased from 11,400 to 47,400 cases, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.9%.

With the accelerating aging of China’s population and the uneven distribution of medical resources, tertiary hospitals in China require surgical robots to enhance efficiency, while primary-care hospitals need robotic systems to improve healthcare quality and achieve standardization of medical services.The Chinese market for laparoscopic surgical robots holds immense growth potential, with a market size of USD 318 million in 2020 and an projected rapid expansion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.2% from 2020 to 2026.

In China’s laparoscopic surgical robot market, only the da Vinci Surgical System and one domestic brand have received regulatory approval. The da Vinci system dominates the market and is widely used across various departments, including abdominal surgery, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology; its fourth generation has already been developed. However, due to high import prices and a lack of market education, the installed base of da Vinci surgical robots in China amounted to only 200 units by the end of 2020, far failing to meet market demand. This substantial supply-demand gap urgently needs to be filled by domestic brands.

Currently, the new generation of laparoscopic surgical robots developed by Panther Healthcare features technical specifications comparable to those of the fourth-generation da Vinci Surgical System.This product is designed with specialty-specific customization in mind, focusing on thoracic and general surgery, and targeting high-volume procedures involving organs such as the lungs, mediastinum, gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Through long-term close engagement with frontline clinical practice in China, Panther Healthcare has a deep understanding of clinical needs. Technologically, Panther Healthcare’s laparoscopic surgical robot demonstrates a certain degree of leadership. The new generation of laparoscopic surgical robot adoptsActive Master Hand Technology, with no extraneous movements during the procedure, allowing the surgeon to adjust the robotic arms intraoperatively. This surgical robot featuresTremor Filtering Function, which can filter out physiological tremors of the human hand to achieve precise surgical operations. Meanwhile, the system can also realize5G Remote Communication and Control, in line with the development of telemedicine in China.

Furthermore, leveraging Panther Healthcare’s expertise in staplers, ultrasonic scalpels, and other domains, this surgical robot system is equipped with a diverse array of surgical instruments. Due to considerations regarding R&D capabilities and production costs, many surgical robots are limited to only a few types of medical devices. This necessitates assistants to introduce additional instruments, such as staplers, through extra incisions for critical maneuvers like organ reconstruction during surgery. In contrast, Panther Healthcare independently manufactures compatible consumables, effectively reducing both product and procedural costs. More importantly, from the perspective of surgical quality, the lead surgeon can maintain full control throughout the procedure and independently perform critical operations, thereby enhancing overall surgical efficiency and quality.

In terms of commercialization capabilities, the new generation of surgical robots has a natural "foundation." After nearly 20 years of development, Panther Healthcare has accumulated certain product registration, marketing, and channel resources. The company has previously established a presence in 1,200 hospitals domestically and has over 400 distributors. Internationally, Panther Healthcare also has overseas subsidiaries, sales teams, and distributor networks.

Guided by a steadfast commitment to focus and innovation, and leveraging robust commercialization capabilities alongside technologically advanced robotic products, Panther Healthcare is well-positioned to accelerate its progress and extend its reach in the laparoscopic surgical robot sector, thereby delivering truly comprehensive “one-stop” solutions for minimally invasive surgery.