Recently, a robot doctor

applied to neurointervention appeared on

Network News Broadcast of CCTV.

Its key core technology is derived from

“Luban” minimally invasive vascular interventional surgical robot

(hereinafter referred to as “vascular interventional surgical robot”)

developed by the team under the guidance of

Associate Prof. Xiao Nan, School of Life Sciences, BIT.

Vascular interventional surgery robot developed by the team

Since 2015,

the team has cooperated with Beijing Tiantan Hospital and other units to

carry out research on core technology optimization and special consumables of

vascular interventional surgery robot.

And in 2018,

the industrial transformation began.

“Luban” has become the interventional robot product with

the fastest research and development progress in China.

Research background

As the number of patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

increases year by year,

the demand for minimally invasive vascular interventional therapy is increasing.

In conventional vascular interventional surgery,

interventional surgical robot products are limited by the technology such as

the long-stroke catheters and guidewires for

coordinated delivery of fine ultra-smooth guidewire control,

and cannot fully meet clinical needs in terms of accuracy and safety.

Minimally invasive vascular interventional surgery (picture from the Internet)

How to improve the delivery technology and

advance the level of surgery

has become a technical problem that

needs to be solved urgently at home and abroad.

Xiao Nan guided the team to carry out research work

Therefore,

the team began 6-year research on

minimally invasive vascular interventional surgery robot.

A number of key core technologies have been broken through

Minimally invasive vascular interventional surgery robot system

After years of accumulation,

the team has made breakthroughs in the delivery technology of interventional devices

and proposed a new minimally invasive vascular interventional surgery robot system.

Carrying structure of minimally invasive vascular interventional surgery robot

Clamping mechanism of minimally invasive vascular interventional surgery robot

In order to achieve a sterile environment in the clinic,

the team optimized and modified

the clamping mechanism and the carrying transmission structure

of clinical instruments,

innovatively proposed a direct-push non-fixed transmission technology,

which carried out a single hole for the bacteria-bearing part of the robot body, and

conducted modular isolation and sterilization

for the part in direct contact with the instruments,

so as to achieve a good sterile isolation effect.

Schematic diagram of compliant double four-jaw card mechanism

For solving the problem of twisting and difficult delivery of

ultra-fine and ultra-smooth guidewires,

the team proposed a high-torque non-destructive guidewire delivery technology.

By analyzing and researching the contact part between

the ultra-fine guidewire and the jaws,

a compliant double four-jaw card mechanism was designed,

which increased the torsion force of the guidewire by more than 10 times.

At the same time,

a new flexible material is used to prevent damage to

the super-slip coating on the surface of the guidewire.

Picture of minimally invasive vascular interventional surgery robot equipment

The breakthrough of key technology

has effectively solved the problems of

the robot’s inability to assist in the whole process and

the poor maneuverability of the fine guidewire,

laying the foundation for the clinical use of surgical robots.

The first clinical trial in China was completed

With the support of the project of National Key R&D Program of China

“Industrialization Research and Application of Minimally Invasive Vascular Interventional Surgery Robot”,

the development of the robot was fully completed and

animal experiments were carried out in 2019.

The first domestic whole-cerebrovascular clinical trial was completed

in Beijing Tiantan Hospital in November 2019

In November 2019,

the surgical robot system successfully implemented

the first whole-cerebrovascular clinical trial in China.

The doctor’s remote-controlled robot operated the catheter and guidewire to

enter the corresponding area of the patient along

the abdominal aorta, aortic arch, common carotid artery and

internal carotid artery for angiography,

which was really a success.

The team conducted a follow-up clinical trial in Beijing Tiantan Hospital

At present, “Luban”, after further technological upgrades,

has taken the lead in entering the clinical trial stage

registered by the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration),

and 123 clinical trial cases have been completed.

It is worth mentioning that

“Luban” can complete angiography and treatment at the same time,

whose technical level takes a leading position in the world.

Beside, “Luban” is also the first vascular interventional surgical robot that

has completed clinical trials in China.

Currently, the research has 18 invention patents and

published more than 20 high-level research papers.

The development and application of the robot has been reported

by mainstream media such as

Guangming Daily,Science and Technology DailyandBeijing Daily.

While completing the transformation of relevant industries,

the project also provides important support for talent training.

Relying on the project,

the team guided students to participate in

the 12th “Challenge Cup” Chinese College Students Entrepreneurship Competition

and won National Gold Award.

The team also won National Second Prize

in National Invention Design Competition of Intelligent Mechatronical Systems for College Students,

and Beijing Second Prize

in the 6th China College Students’ ‘Internet +’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

In 2018, the team project was exhibited

at the Beijing Venue of the National Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week.

Having dialogue with the times with the power of science and technology,

drawing the new chapter of science and technology with innovation,

BITers forge ahead to climb the peak bravely, and spare no efforts to

make contribution to the development of science and technology.