​On the early morning of April 2, 2025 Beijing time (evening of April 1, 2025 in Bucharest time), a groundbreaking transcontinental surgical procedure spanning 8,000 kilometers sent shockwaves through the global medical community. Internationally renowned thoracic surgery authority Prof. Diego González Rivas' team collaborated with Prof. Zhao Jun's team from The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou No.1 Hospital) to successfully perform a radical resection of a right upper lung lobe tumor on a European lung cancer patient. This historic procedure not only marked the European clinical debut of China's original Shurui^® single-port serpentine-arm surgical robot, but also represented the world's first remote thoracic surgery conducted using a single-port surgical robot. More importantly, it inaugurated a new era of global technological export for China's innovative serpentine-arm surgical robotics.With the operating team stationed in Suzhou, China and the patient located in Bucharest, Romania, the surgery was assisted onsite by Romanian thoracic surgery expert Dr. Mugurel Bosinceanu. This milestone achievement not only demonstrates another breakthrough in minimally invasive surgical technology, but more significantly indicates that China's original high-end medical equipment has gained authoritative recognition in Europe. It initiates a historic new phase of "Intelligent Manufacturing from China" entering globally top-tier developed markets.

"Technological Breakthrough: China’s Serpentine-Arm Surgical Robot Tackles Key Challenges in European Thoracic Surgery"

The successful deployment of Shurui^® surgical robot in Romania directly addresses the core demands of minimally invasive thoracic surgery in Europe. For years, the European market has relied on U.S.-branded multi-port robots that are not only prohibitively expensive but also result in larger surgical trauma. Even the single-port robot from the same U.S. brand struggles with thoracic procedures via intercostal access due to its rigid surgical tool architecture and oversized circular sheath (the only available configuration). In contrast, Shurui^® robot leverages its globally unique patented serpentine-arm technology to complete complex lung cancer radical resections through a single 3-4cm intercostal incision, significantly reducing patient trauma and accelerating postoperative recovery. To overcome the anatomical constraints of intercostal approaches, Shurui^® developed a specialized flat three-channel sheath compatible with its serpentine-arm system. This innovation allows both surgical instruments and a high-definition 3D endoscope to access the thoracic cavity through a single intercostal incision. The hyper-flexible serpentine instruments enable multidirectional manipulation within the confined thoracic space, achieving precise and safe dissection of hilar structures. This technological revolution realizes the triple upgrade of "minimally invasive, precise, and safe" for single-port robotic applications in thoracic surgery, offering superior solutions for complex procedures while resolving Europe's longstanding dilemma between minimally invasive benefits and operative efficiency. Prof. Diego González Rivas commented: "Shurui^® robot's groundbreaking technological originality and system integration capabilities are astonishing. Its performance not only meets but surpasses international top-tier standards—this will revolutionize minimally invasive thoracic surgery in Europe."

Technology breaks the wall: Chinese originals win European clinical trust

In this collaboration, European medical teams have for the first time adopted a China-originated surgical robot in core surgical scenarios—a choice that not only demonstrates direct recognition of China's technological capabilities but also reflects two groundbreaking shifts. Firstly, the Shurui^® robot has earned clinical validity endorsement from Europe's top-tier medical institutions through its demonstrated technical performance. Secondly, the European market has transitioned from passive acceptance to proactively integrating China's original high-end medical equipment into advanced surgical protocols.China's innovative high-end medical devices are reconstructing global trust networks in healthcare through unique technological advantages—shattering the West's technical monopoly with hardcore innovation while gaining trust from European practitioners and patients through proven clinical value.

Currently, Shurui^® robot has initiated in-depth collaborations with multiple leading European medical institutions, accelerating market penetration through localized training centers and joint surgical demonstration programs in Europe. Prof. Zhao Jun, Director of Thoracic Surgery at Suzhou No.1 Hospital, stated: "China's original high-end medical equipment is reshaping the global industrial landscape. We anticipate more domestic innovations reaching the world stage, transforming 'China solutions' into international standards."

Historic Reversal: China's Medical Resources Embark on "Counter-Flow Penetration" into Developed Markets

This collaboration has overturned the traditional flow pattern of medical technology. For decades, China operated under a "technology import-digestion" model, while Shurui^® robot's clinical application in Europe now marks a critical breakthrough for China's original high-end medical equipment in developed country markets. This "counter-flow penetration" phenomenon embodies both Chinese medtech enterprises' accumulated expertise in core technologies through years of dedicated R&D, and the ongoing restructuring of global industrial chain value.

With Shurui^® robot's clinical adoption in Europe, China's innovative high-end medical devices are poised to gradually break the Western monopoly, establishing independent ecosystems in pivotal fields like precision minimally invasive surgery and artificial intelligence. The 8,000-kilometer transcontinental procedure stands not merely as a successful remote surgery case study, but as a manifesto of the new era—where Chinese innovation is becoming the core engine driving global healthcare transformation!