China brain surgery robot outperforms humans, cuts procedure time by 29%

The device, described as the world’s first approved robot for cerebrovascular interventions, was tested at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, one of China’s top medical institutions.

The study published on Jan. 30, led by Dr. Zhao Yuanli, involved 50 patients treated at PUMCH between May and August 2025. Of these, 25 underwent robot-assisted cerebral angiography performed by a young surgeon, while 25 received manual procedures by the same neurosurgeon.

All procedures were completed successfully, with both groups achieving a technical and clinical success rate of 100%. With robotic assistance and only two training sessions, the operator reduced average procedure time from 38 minutes to 27 minutes, improving efficiency by 29%.

Medical professionals in a operating room. Photo from Pexels

Cerebral vascular imaging is essential for diagnosing and treating many brain conditions, but the procedure is technically demanding. Manual operations can be affected by hand tremors, and surgeons must wear heavy radiation-protection gear that increases physical strain. Prolonged radiation exposure also poses health risks.

Researchers said the robotic system addresses these limitations by providing stable operation without mechanical or system failures. Surgeons reported smooth catheter and guide-wire delivery, stable instrument control, and responsive force feedback.

"No differences were observed between the two groups in fluoroscopy time, patient radiation dose, contrast agent dose or total angiography room time," said Zhao, as quoted by Interesting Engineering.

He described the research as an exploratory, single-center case series based on a limited number of patients, adding that larger, multi-center trials are needed to confirm the robot’s safety and performance across broader clinical settings.