Lanzhou, China, 17 December 2021 — Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd. (MicroPort® MedBot®) has announced the completion of the First-in-Man (FIM) trial of a robotic-assisted single-port cholecystectomy using the Toumai® Single-Arm Laparoscopic Surgical Robot (Toumai® Single-Arm). The Toumai® Single-Arm developed by MicroPort® MedBot® in collaboration with a team led by Prof. Zhongtao Zhang from the Beijing Friendship Hospital, affiliated to Capital Medical University and Prof. Xun Li from the First Hospital of Lanzhou University. This is the first time that a single-arm laparoscopic surgery robot has been successfully used in gastrointestinal surgery in human trials, and marks a major milestone in a project led by Prof. Zhang under the auspices of the National Key R&D Program of the ‘13th Five-Year Plan' period.
Since the initiation of the clinical program in 2020, the Toumai® multi-arm laparoscopic surgical robot has been assisting clinical specialists in achieving milestones of clinical significance in numerous difficult surgeries within the fields of urology, general surgery, thoracic surgery, and gynecology. In December 2020, Prof. Dahong Zhang from Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital performed a single-port partial nephrectomy using Toumai® Multi-Arm Laparoscopic Surgical Robot - the first single-port surgery using a Chinese developed laparoscopic surgical robot in China. MicroPort® MedBot® becomes the first company in China with both multi-arm and single-arm laparoscopic surgical robots under clinical trials.
Prof. Zhongtao Zhang noted that the Toumai® surgical robot used in this human trial features a unique proprietary single-arm structure, promising ease of use and flexibility. The high dexterity of the snake-shaped device allows for seven degrees of freedom in a limited space, making it very easy to operate. In the case of cholecystectomy, the surgical incision is located at the umbilicus, which does not necessitate post-surgery aesthetics and thus is easier for patients. Compared to multi-port robotic surgeries, single-port surgery is a promising clinical solution thanks to its smaller incision, less invasion of tissues, shorter positioning time of the robotic system, and larger positioning space.
Dr. Chao He, President of MicroPort® MedBot®, said, “At the moment, there is no single-arm laparoscopic surgical robot that is approved for marketing in China. In order to fill this gap, and with the support of the National Key Technologies R&D Program under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the team at MicroPort® MedBot® is working closely with universities, research institutes, and hospitals in a joint effort to complete the first Toumai® Single-Arm-assisted clinical trial. It also marks a further expansion of the scope of the Toumai® laparoscopic solutions. We will continue to enhance close cooperation with clinical specialists and deepen the exploration and innovation of cutting-edge technologies to provide patients and doctors with total surgical solutions powered by intelligent robotics that extend and reshape lives.”
About Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd.
Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd is a subsidiary of MicroPort Scientific Corporation (Stock code: 00853.HK). MicroPort® started its strategic development of medical robots in 2014 and has since been engaged in independent research and development of endoscopic surgical robots. Over the years, MicroPort® MedBot® has focused on the development and commercialization of minimally invasive and noninvasive surgical robots, with integrated solutions gradually created for multiple clinical applications on five ‘golden paths,’ namely laparoscopy, orthopedics, vascular intervention, natural orifice surgery, and percutaneous puncture.