Chinese Robot Performs Corrective Surgery for Congenital Heart Defect Using Artificial Intelligence

A Chinese medical team has successfully used an AI-powered surgical robot to perform a cardiac catheterization procedure to treat a congenital heart defect, marking a global first of its kind. The Chinese website China.org.cn quoted Beijing’s 301 Hospital as stating that the surgery was performed on a 48-year-old man in the Advanced Cardiology Department, using a new system that relies on ultrasound image analysis and automated control of surgical instruments, thereby reducing the need for direct human intervention compared to traditional robots. Project leaders explained that the robot can analyze heart images, precisely locate the defect, and guide instruments through blood vessels to close it, relying on ultrasound rather than X-rays, which limits radiation exposure for both the patient and the medical staff. This technology is expected to expand the scope of specialized cardiac care in the future, particularly in remote areas, and may be used for remote surgeries, although its benefits still require further clinical evaluation.