Science Park Company Precision Robotics Introduces Disposable and Robotised Flexible Endoscope

(Hong Kong, 10 March 2020) – Precision Robotics (Hong Kong) Limited, a partner company of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), has developed the disposable robotised flexible endoscope. The fully articulated robotic arm provides accurate manoeuvres and a high level of control to surgeons. Its image processing system enables precise and intraoperative control, yet the instrument remains small and highly cost-efficient.

Precision Robotics is a spun-out company from Imperial College London with a core research and development (R&D) base at Hong Kong Science Park. It aims to develop precise, agile and intelligent surgical robots. Precision Robotics’ single-use endoscope heads are designed to reduce the risk of cross-contimination due to disinfection issues of surgical instruments, improving the safety and accuracy of surgical procedures.

“The roll-out of the intelligent surgical system by Precision Robotics demonstrates our commitment to shaping the future of robotic surgery, with emphasis on safety, dexterity and accessibility.” said Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, Director and Co-Founder of Precision Robotics. “Through building up the company’s R&D capacity and leveraging the facilities and resources in HKSTP’s thriving I&T ecosystem, we have gradually established our presence in the Hong Kong, Mainland and Asia markets, which serves as an important milestone in the development of our technology innovation and commercialisation processes.”

The need to perform delicate surgical procedures safely in confined spaces has created a growing demand for flexible and agile devices. Key features of Precision Robotics’ disposable and robotised flexible endoscope include 3D stereoscopic HD vision for depth perception; a robotised flexible tip for multi-directional bending for wider field of view and a flexibe endoscope head which enables single and multi-port surgeries at flexible angles.

Raymond Wong, Head of Investment of HKSTP, said: “Precision Robotics is a portfolio company of HKSTP Ventures, a direct investment fund whose vision is to explore investment opportunities in deep technologies, in areas such as AI & Robotics, biotech, fintech and smart cities. We are delighted to have further injection from the government, which expands our fund investment pool to a total sum of HK$600 million, accelerating the growth of the local startup and investment ecosystem.” HKSTP Ventures combines HKSTP’s resources with those of private sector investors to nurture technology startups across different investment stages.

The healthcare sector is preparing to adopt the next-generation surgical instruments driven by advanced robotics, with Precision Robotics’ new surgical system being a prime example. The adoption of single-use robotised flexible endoscope results in considerable cost savings to hospitals, compared with traditional laparoscopes that require the purchase of a whole instrument tower. Currently, a number of private hospitals are exploring to adopt the new technology in their operations.