Editor’s Note: In the field of minimally invasive urologic surgery, Chinese physicians have long stood at the forefront of global innovationfrom pioneering retroperitoneoscopic approaches tailored to Chinese anatomical features to developing dual-console and remote robotic surgical systems that lead international standards. At the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Chinese Urological Doctor Association (CUDA), Professor Liqun Zhou, former Director of the Peking University Institute of Urology and current President of The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University, delivered a compelling presentation titled “Application of Domestic Robotic Systems in Urologic Surgery – The IUPU Experience.” In an exclusive interview with UroStream, he shared the journey of IUPU’s development and clinical application of domestically produced surgical robots and offered insights into their transformative potential across urology.Made in China Domestic Robotic Surgery Systems Impress on the Global Stage
01 UroStream: In your CUDA 2025 presentation on “Application of Domestic Robotic Systems in Urologic Surgery – The IUPU Experience,” could you tell us what initially led you and your team to participate in the development of these domestic robotic surgical systems?
Prof. Liqun Zhou: Our collaboration with domestic surgical robotics companies began through academic exchanges with Professor Liang Cui from the Civil Aviation General Hospital’s Department of Urology. Professor Cui played a significant role in the development of the Kangdu Robotic System in Suzhou. Several years ago, domestic surgical robotics was just beginning to take shape, and we teamed up with industry and multiple domestic centers to engage in collaborative research. We witnessed the evolution from first-generation robots to second-generation systems, and eventually to today’s five-arm, dual-console system based on the “4+1 mode.”
Throughout this process of clinical implementation and iterative upgrades, we have conducted a series of high-quality clinical studies, many of which have been published in international journals. For instance, in 2022, we published a prospective single-center study on robotic radical prostatectomy using the domestic system in the Journal of Urology, the official journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). At the 2024 AUA Annual Meeting, we were invited to present at a dedicated robotic surgery session. Additionally, at recent European Congresses on Laparoscopy, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence in Urology (CILR&AI), our team showcased various urologic procedures using the domestic robotic platform. These international engagements have enabled us to demonstrate the capabilities of “Made in China” to the global medical community.
Telesurgery: Empowering Domestic Robots to Overtake on the Curve
02 UroStream: You and your team have already conducted telesurgery procedures. Could you tell us about the impact of these novel systems on grassroots hospitals and how they position China in the global urologic surgery field?
Prof. Liqun Zhou: Although China entered the surgical robotics field later than others, domestic robotic systems have already achieved surgical functionality comparable to the da Vinci system. While there are still some gaps in certain areas, we’ve made notable breakthroughs in telesurgery. For example, our collaboration with Kangdu Robotics enabled us to conduct remote surgeries as early as two years ago. These included cross-regional procedures in cooperation with Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the Miyun branch of Peking University First Hospital, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and hospitals in Hainan.
The progress in telesurgery has been largely driven by advancements in communication technology and dual-console robotic systems. With this setup, local surgeons can perform operations while remote specialists can take over when neededbreaking time and geographical boundaries. This remote functionality isn’t limited to standard surgeriesit’s also invaluable for training. During procedures, we can annotate incision or dissection boundaries on screen to guide the local surgeons, and if complications arise, we can immediately assume control. This mode of remote teaching plays a key role in disseminating advanced techniques, reducing the need for surgeons to travel long distances and allowing patients to receive expert care without leaving their local hospital.
China’s domestic robotic systems now lead globally in the field of telesurgery. Beyond Kangdu Robotics, companies like Jingfeng Medical have also made substantial progress. At the CILR Congress in Rome, Academician Xu Zhang used a Jingfeng robot to perform surgery on a patient located in Beijingdemonstrating the strength of Chinese-made systems in this domain. Moreover, several head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have confirmed that domestic robots match imported systems in terms of performance and safety. These achievements underscore how domestic robotic platforms are enabling China to “overtake on the curve” in the international telesurgery race.
The Future Is Now: Robotic Innovation in Urologic Surgery
03 UroStream: Looking ahead, what future directions do you foresee for domestic robotic surgical systems?
Prof. Liqun Zhou: China’s domestic robotic platforms are in a vibrant phase of development, steadily breaking the monopoly once held by imported systems like the da Vinci robot. As far as I know, more than a dozen domestic companies are now engaged in a competitive race to develop these technologies.
In the future, the scope of application for domestic robots will only expand. Compared to traditional open surgery and laparoscopic proceduresthough the latter marked progressit comes with a steep learning curve. Training a skilled laparoscopic surgeon takes significant time, effort, and hands-on experience across numerous procedures. In contrast, robotic surgical systems offer distinct advantages: not only do they provide magnified visualization, but their mechanical arms can rotate 360 degrees, essentially extending the surgeon’s hands directly to the operative site. As a result, robot-assisted surgery excels in both visualization and operational precision.
In surgery, the trend is clear: robotic systems are poised to replace conventional laparoscopy for nearly all minimally invasive procedures. Clinically, the outcomes with robotic surgery are often superior. Moreover, robotic systems enable remote operation. A surgeon in Beijing can perform surgery in Hainanor even in remote areas like Tibet or Xinjiangin real time. This solves the challenge of bringing high-end surgical expertise to underserved regions and reshapes the traditional model where surgeons must be physically present. At the same time, robotic systems are transforming surgical education: through high-definition, real-time telesurgery, local surgeons can receive direct training in cutting-edge techniques and procedures.
Therefore, I believe the use of robotic surgery will become increasingly widespread, with telesurgery as its standout strengthan advantage that traditional laparoscopic techniques simply cannot match. The future of telesurgery is tremendously promising.
