CU Medicine and CUHK’s Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering performed the world’s first robot-assisted en bloc resection of bladder tumour (ERBT) in December last year, using a locally developed endoscopic surgical robotic system. The procedures have been conducted on eight bladder cancer patients, whose tumours have been completely removed from the surgical margins.

All patients were discharged within one to two days after surgery, and six of them have completed 30-day clinical observation with satisfactory recovery.

CU Medicine proves that the robotic system increases the stability of ERBT operations, reducing the risks of bleeding and perforation and enhancing surgical precision. It helps lower the risk of recurrence due to residual tumour tissue and speed up patient recovery. Additionally, the system is simple to learn. It is expected that in the long run, more doctors will be able to perform ERBT after training, so that bladder cancer patients can receive treatment earlier. CU Medicine anticipates that the system will soon be adopted for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, uterine conditions and biliary diseases.

The system comes with a pair of flexible and compact robotic instruments of 2.8mm to 3.5mm in diameter, enabling en bloc tumour resection within a tiny space. Doctors operate the system with a pair of remote controls configured for robotic positioning and manipulation, enhancing procedural stability.