Changsha, China - On November 2nd, Toumai^® surgical robot training was held at the Minimally Invasive Robot Training Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. Surgeons participating in the "International Training Course on Gastrointestinal Laparoscopic Surgery for Countries along the Belt and Road" took part in training and conducted animal experiments. This training aims to enhance the robotic surgical skills and standardize minimally invasive surgery in countries along the Belt and Road, enabling them to adapt to the changes and developments in minimally invasive surgical techniques, and contribute to the discipline construction, medical education, and hospital management in the participants' hospitals.

▲Surgical experts from countries along the Belt and Road participated in the training

According to the introduction, the "International Training Course on Gastrointestinal Laparoscopic Surgery for Countries along the Belt and Road" is sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and hosted by Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. It was first launched in 2021. This project is an important initiative for Xiangya Hospital to innovate international exchange models and an active exploration and demonstration of "resource sharing, complementary advantages, balanced development, and collaborative innovation" between China, Xiangya Hospital, and countries along the Belt and Road. So far, Xiangya Hospital has successfully provided comprehensive training to nearly a hundred surgeons from dozens of countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, effectively promoting the balanced development and progress of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery along the Belt and Road.

During this training, clinical training staff from Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd. introduced the performance and clinical applications of Toumai^® surgical robots to the doctors, and explained the robot operation, dry-lab operation techniques, and key points of animal experiments. In the dry-lab operation stage, doctors familiarized themselves with the operation skills of the robot in a short period of time through specific forms of games, such as bead clamping and suturing. In the live animal surgery experiment stage, the doctors simulated clinical procedures and performed bladder repair, bilateral adnexectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, rectal mobilization, and bilateral iliac vessel mobilization, quickly mastering the surgical skills and experiencing the precision, effectiveness, and minimally invasive nature of robot-assisted surgery. This training laid a solid foundation for doctors to carry out laparoscopic robot surgery in their home countries, promoting the improvement and development of medical standards and diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in their respective hospitals.

The technological charm and powerful auxiliary functions of Toumai^® amazed the foreign doctors. They expressed that robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery is one of the milestone events in the international surgical field in the past few decades. However, the application and development of this technology are highly uneven in many countries along the Belt and Road. In the majority of developing countries, the proportion of robot-assisted surgeries is almost negligible. In contrast, China has become a world leader in the volume of robot-assisted surgeries and has become a leading force in global clinical medical development. They hope to have the opportunity to come to China for training in the future.

Some doctors also mentioned that China's surgical robot industry is booming, and Chinese-developed laparoscopic surgical robots represented by Toumai^® have the potential to become a disruptive force in the field. They believe it will bring more choices and benefits to doctors and patients in China and around the world. This is a powerful proof of China's high-end medical equipment and technological innovation leading the global market. High-level medical equipment can quickly drive the high-quality development of a country or region's healthcare industry. They hope to promote the introduction of Toumai and deepen cooperation with Xiangya Hospital, and MedBot^® after returning to their home countries.