Medical Robotics: Opportunities in China

Abstract

Medical robotics is a rapidly advancing discipline that is leading the evolution of robot-assisted surgery, personalized rehabilitation and assistance, and hospital automation. In China, both research and commercial developments in medical robotics have undergone exponential growth in recent years. In this review, we first give an overview of the clinical and social demands that motivate the rapid development in medical robotics. For each subdiscipline (surgery, rehabilitation and personal assistance, and hospital automation), we then summarize the major research projects sponsored by National Key Research and Development Programs. The remaining technical, commercial, and regulatory challenges are highlighted. This review also outlines some of the new opportunities in endoluminal and interventional robotics, micro- and nanorobotics, soft exoskeletons, intelligent human–robot interaction, and telemedicine and telesurgery, which may support the general uptake of robotics in medicine.