Hangzhou, Zhejiang - On May 13, 2023, at the preparatory meeting of the Urology Robotic Laparoscopy Committee hosted by the Zhejiang Society for Mathematical Medicine, the team of Professor Dan Xia, Director of the Department of Urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU) and Professor Shuo Wang held the closing ceremony of MicroPort^® Toumai^® Robot research validation in FAHZU together with the MicroPort^® MedBot^® team. In the meeting, Professor Dan Xia summarized and shared the Application Experience of the Chinese-developed MicroPort^® Toumai^® Robot in 72 Urologic Surgeries. According to reports, Toumai^® Laparoscopic Robot completed a total of 72 urological surgeries under the operation by the experts from FAHZU from the first operation on October 25, 2022 to the completion of the last two operations in late April 2023 (across the COVID-19 outbreak).

These 72 surgeries generally covered all laparoscopic surgeries in urology. In addition to conventional radical prostatectomy with extraperitoneal approach for prostate cancer, partial nephrectomy, and adrenalectomy, it has also completed such difficult and complicated clinical surgeries as abdominal left-sided radical surgery for giant kidney cancer + para-abdominal aortic lymph node dissection, radical treatment of giant renal cancer via retroperitoneal cavity, first Toumai^®-assisted transperitoneal "one-position" radical surgery for renal pelvis cancer, first Chinese-developed robot-assisted total endoluminal radical cystectomy + neobladder in situ, and "one-position" nephroureterectomy. MicroPort^® Toumai^® accepted the challenge of "high number of complicated surgeries". All 72 surgeries were efficiently completed with robotic assistance, with a smooth duration and without a single case of transit luminalization, achieving a clinical level of high-quality surgery. It demonstrated the excellent clinical surgical ability of the Department of Urology of FAHZU and the mature technique of robot application, and also proved that MicroPort^® Toumai^® Robot, with its strong clinical fitness and precise technical superiority, is able to constantly challenge and successfully complete difficult procedures, making it a good assistant for doctors to deal with complicated surgeries.

Sharing of classic surgeries

In the 72 surgeries, Professor Dan Xia and Professor Shuo Wang of Urology Department used MicroPort^® Toumai^® to continuously challenge difficult, complicated operations, creating one classic textbook record after another for urological surgery with Chinese-developed surgical robot.

Toumai^® robot-assisted radical cystectomy

MicroPort^® Toumai^® completed the first case of Chinese-developed robot-assisted total endovenous radical cystectomy + in situ neobladder in China in November 2022 at FAHZU, which was a cumbersome, complex and difficult procedure performed in the abdominal cavity throughout the course. It was a top level urology surgery. The surgery was successfully completed by the team led by Professor Shuo Wang and Professor Ping Wang from the Department of Urology. The two cases of radical bladder treatment using MicroPort^® Toumai^® at FAHZU both lasted 8 hours, featuring flexible operation, smooth progress, and less blood loss, and fully demonstrated the stability and flexibility of the robot. Clinical follow-up showed that the patient recovered well after surgery.
 

Toumai^® Robot-assisted radical nephrectomy for left-sided renal cancer through a transabdominal approach + para-aortic lymph node dissection in the abdominal aorta

Professor Dan Xia and Professor Shuo Wang, with the cooperation of the anesthesia and nursing team, led the completion of a complicated, challenging, and high-risk surgery in the field of urology - robot-assisted radical nephrectomy for left-sided renal cancer through a transabdominal approach + para-aortic lymph node dissection in the abdominal aorta in November 2022, relieving the life-threatening condition of the patient suffering from a huge renal malignant tumor.

Toumai^® Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

In November 2022, Professor Shuo Wang completed the first Toumai^® Robot-assisted live surgery - radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer via extraperitoneal approach - via live remote broadcasting and demonstrated the entire surgical process at the opening ceremony of the Robot and Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery Forum 2022 in a textbook style, in the presence of all guests at the opening ceremony of the forum. MicroPort^® Toumai^®-assisted radical prostatectomy performed at FAHZU is categorized as follows by different approaches and operation modes: radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer via anterior transabdominal approach, radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer via extraperitoneal approach; (intrafascial) radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, (extrafascial) radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, and (interfascial) radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

Toumai^® Robot-assisted "one-position" radical surgery for renal pelvis cancer

In December 2022, MicroPort^® Toumai^® successfully performed a robot-assisted endoscopic "one-position" radical surgery for renal pelvis cancer under the operation of Professor Shuo Wang's team. Compared with conventional laparoscopy, robot-assisted "one-position" radical surgery for renal pelvis cancer demonstrates the relative advantages of robotic surgery. Robot-assisted laparoscopic "one-position" radical surgery for renal pelvis cancer can be performed via transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach, with only one perforation layout, and the patient does not need to change the position halfway. The kidney and ureter can be removed by flexible switching of the robotic arm.

The surgical robot is not refrained from the limits of hands and solves the problem of inaccessible operation area due to changes in the target position. Its tremor filtration, three-dimensional field of view and flexible luminal control make the originally complicated and tedious surgical procedures simpler, safer and more efficient.

/Expert summary at the closing ceremony of MicroPort^® Toumai^® Robot research validation/

1. With a safe, stable surgical operating system, Toumai^® can fully guarantee surgical safety and improve surgical efficiency, laying a good foundation for the development of Chinese-developed robots in the future.

2. Professional clinical service team and rigorous logistical support work ensure the safe operation of the surgical robot system in an all-round way.

3. Four flexible arms make it generally meet the needs of clinical cavity surgery, comparable to imported models, with a future worth looking forward to.

4. It promotes the level of clinical treatment of diseases as well as the overall improvement of multiple disciplines in minimally invasive surgery.

Create an era of intelligent surgery with FAHZU

Establishment of a training center for Chinese-developed robots at FAHZU

In addition to continuously challenging difficult surgeries, FAHZU also attaches great importance to medical education and training. In January 2022, FAHZU established the MicroPort^® Surgical Robot Training Center in collaboration with MicroPort^® MedBot^® to provide more surgeons with the technique to master surgical robots, and to establish a standardized robotic surgery training system for the standardized use of surgical robots, thus promoting the diversification of surgical robots in the field of minimally invasive.

Five live surgical demonstrations completed together

Robot and Minimally Invasive Urology Surgery Forum 2022, National Urology Academic Conference (CUA) 2022, MicroPort Shuxiu Chengdu Medical Association Urology Specialized Committee 2023 Academic Annual Meeting, and Urology Challenge Robotic Laparoscopy Conference 2023 were attended by many hospitals and centers. In the event, urological experts from all over the country gathered, and Toumai^®, as one of the representatives of the Chinese-developed robots, competed with various imported models from overseas. Professor Dan Xia and Professor Shuo Wang from FAHZU staged one high-quality teaching demonstration of the robot after another relying on their excellent surgical skills as well as the precise, stable performance of Toumai^®, which won the enthusiastic applause of the attending peers.

Mr. Yu Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of MicroPort^® MedBot^® said:

The success of 72 difficult laparoscopic surgeries assisted by Toumai^® at FAHZU is a reflection of the excellent surgical techniques of the two directors Dan Xia and Shuo Wang, and also the excellent and stable performance of the Toumai^® Robot in challenging the complexity of the operation. It indicates that the Toumai^® Robot has made another breakthrough in clinical application, and is a clinical validation of the advantages of the innovation of the Chinese-developed robotic technology. We are looking forward to the continuous improvement and optimization of MicroPort^® Toumai^® through continuous communication and joint exploration with experts and surgeons, to bring more benefits for surgeons and patients in clinical applications in line with the original intention of "Making Surgery Easier, Safer and Less Invasive".