First Chinese Orthopaedic Surgical Robot Trialled at West China Hospital

In a statement, Shenzhen-based Yuanhua Tech announced that its HX Orthopaedic-specific Robotic Arm has completed clinical verification at the Chengdu-based hospital.

West China Hospital of Sichuan University has clinically validated what is being described as China’s first locally developed robotic arm for orthopaedic surgery, marking a milestone in the country’s push to reduce reliance on imported high-end surgical systems.

In a statement, Shenzhen-based Yuanhua Tech announced that its HX Orthopaedic-specific Robotic Arm has completed clinical verification at the Chengdu-based hospital. The system was developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Yuanhua Orthopaedic Robotics (Shenzhen).

According to the company, the robotic arm incorporates high-precision zero-gravity compensation, compliant control, and tactile feedback technologies. During validation procedures, the system demonstrated “stable performance of zero lag, zero latency, zero deviation, and zero error,” the company said.

Yuanhua Tech stated that the robotic arm is designed to improve surgical efficiency and accuracy while maintaining clinical adaptability and medical data security. The company positions the product as a domestic alternative in China’s high-end orthopaedic surgical robotics market, which has historically been dominated by international manufacturers.

China’s ageing population and national policies promoting precision medicine and more balanced healthcare resource distribution are cited as key growth drivers for the segment. Li Aili, chairman of Yuanhua Tech, said the system’s capabilities are comparable to leading robotic platforms and could help reduce adoption barriers for advanced surgical equipment, particularly in lower-tier hospitals and resource-constrained regions.

Li added that domestically developed surgical robots may help address surgeon shortages in remote areas and support more even access to specialised care.

Founded in 2018, Yuanhua Tech focuses on developing homegrown smart medical equipment. The company has built a portfolio of surgical robotics systems across orthopaedics, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and hemodialysis. It currently holds 12 certifications from China’s National Medical Products Administration, including approval for its orthopaedic robotic arm received in December. The company has also secured regulatory clearances in Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Yuanhua Tech claims it has independently developed all key components of its orthopaedic surgical robots, positioning itself as a fully domestic manufacturer in China’s surgical robotics sector.

Across Asia, robotic-assisted orthopaedic procedures continue to expand, with hospitals adopting systems from global manufacturers as well as emerging domestic players.

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