Shanghai, China, 25 January 2022 – On January 22, 2022, the Toumai® laparoscopic surgical robot (Toumai®), developed by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd. (MicroPort® MedBot®), successfully performed two hepatotomy surgeries in Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital. The surgeries, led by Dr. Yuntao Mafrom the Department of General Surgery, marks the completion of all surgical cases in the multidisciplinary, multicenter-registered clinical trials.
This milestone makes Toumai® the second laparoscopic surgical robot in the world, and the first of its kind in China, that can cover important and complex procedures in the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities. Medical institutions participating in the Toumai® multidisciplinary, multicenter-registered clinical trials include: Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University Medical School, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Gansu Provincial Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, the Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.
During the registered clinical trials, Toumai® was used in a series of challenging surgeries with the purpose of broadening its clinical applications. In various procedures in general surgery, thoracic surgery, and gynecology, it was the first time that a surgical robot developed in China was clinically applied. In addition, Toumai® became the first and only domestic laparoscopic robot to complete clinical trials in the field of thoracic and pelvic surgery (urology and gynecology). In addition to recognition by experts from different clinical centers, the robot has also demonstrated the R&D strength of Chinese companies in the field of intelligent surgical robots.
According to Mr. Yu Liu, Chief Commercial Officer of MicroPort® MedBot®, "Through the joint efforts of experts and teams from different clinical centers, we have successfully completed the enrollment of patients in multidisciplinary, multicenter-registered clinical trials.. The Toumai® clinical trials cover a wide range of difficult and complex surgeries in thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities, demonstrating the leading position of Toumai® in China’s laparoscopic robot development for clinical applications. These registered clinical trials have also demonstrated the ability of MicroPort® MedBot®'s R&D, clinical, and customer service teams to collaborate with each other on intensive surgical operations and quick response to clinical feedbacks. This has laid a solid foundation for the promotion of Toumai® after its launch to the market."
Toumai® completed a registered clinical trial for application in urology surgery in January 2021. In December 2021, it completed the first enrollment case for a clinical trial on single-arm laparoscopic robots. Currently, MicroPort® MedBot® is the first innovative company in China to have both multi-arm (four-arm) and single-arm multi-line laparoscopic robots in clinical trials.
About Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd.
Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd (Stock code: 02252.HK) 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.