Lanzhou, China--From August 4 to August 16, 2021, the Toumai® laparoscopic surgical robot (Toumai®), which was independently developed by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd. (MicroPort® MedBot®) organized a 12-day animal experiment training with the strong support of President Hui Cai of Gansu Provincial Hospital. Led by Director Yuntao Ma of General Surgery Department, more than 60 doctors in general surgery, thoracic surgery, gynecology, urology, anorectal surgery and other departments participated in the robot animal experimental operation. The surgical procedures included gastrectomy, esophagojejunostomy, choledochojejunostomy, lobectomy, esophageal dissociation, lymph node dissection, hysterectomy, etc.

The training was composed of 2 training sessions: The first training session was basic composition and operation skills of Toumai®. Followed the instruction of the senior lecturer from Clinical Training Department of MicroPort ® MedBot® , the surgeons were grouped to complete the basic operations such as tissue suture and separation assisted by Toumai®; The second training session was animal experiment practice, which was classified according to clinical department to simulate surgical operation. From cholecystectomy to highly difficult partial liver resection, Toumai® had successfully completed challenging surgical actions such as tissue resection and structural reconstruction, and its excellent performance had been highly recognized by all experts.

The 3D vision system of Toumai® provides surgeons with stereoscopic and real surgical field of vision. The intuitive master-slave teleoperation is sensitive and easy to use. The wrist-type surgical instruments are highly flexible, which simplifies surgical operation and shortens learning curve on the basis of meeting the requirements of fine ionization. In animal experiments, Toumai® has been successfully applied in highly difficult partial hepatectomy, gastrectomy, esophagojejunostomy, choledochojejunostomy, lobectomy, esophageal dissociation, lymph node dissection and hysterectomy, laying a solid foundation for Chinese-developed surgical robot to assist doctors to complete complicated operations in multiple departments.

Professor Yuntao Ma said, “After more than ten days of highly intensive training in animal experiments, the performance of Toumai® has been highly recognized by many experts in our hospital. We are convinced that Toumai® will push forward the rapid development of robotic surgery in China and we are proud to witness and participate in the growth of domestic surgical robots."

Professor Yunjiu Gou commented, “The animal experiment training has verified the superior performance of Chinese-developed surgical robot. The visual effect, control stability and instrument accuracy of Toumai® are comparable to those of similar products in the world."

Dr. Chao He, President of MicroPort® MedBot®, said, "This successful high-intensity, multi-surgical animal experiment training at Gansu Provincial Hospital demonstrates once again that Toumai® is capable of large-scale clinical application and its reliability has been further verified. MicroPort® MedBot® will continue to strengthen cooperation with clinical experts in various professional fields across the country, innovate and iterate products, and provide doctors and patients with high-quality, inclusive robotic intelligent surgery solution."