Technology Leads, Smart Innovation Shapes the Future | The 5th Orthopedic Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Course at Beijing Century Altar Hospital Successfully Held

 

 

 

On December 27, 2025, the “Fifth Orthopedic Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Course of Beijing Century Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University” was successfully held in Beijing. The course featured surgical demonstrations, cutting-edge theoretical lectures, and in-depth discussions, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest advances and clinical value of orthopedic surgical robots and intelligent navigation technologies. As co-organizers of the event, Huake Run and Sino-European Zhiwei provided technical support and collaborated on curriculum development, working closely with hospital experts to promote the exchange and wider adoption of intelligent orthopedic technologies.

 

 

Surgical Scene: Intelligent Technology Elevates Precision Surgery to New Heights

 

Starting at 8:00 a.m., the training program kicked off in the inpatient department’s operating rooms with an immersive, on-site surgical teaching session. Attending experts closely observed four demonstrations of distinct surgical procedures performed by the expert team led by Professor Ding Lixiang from the Department of Spinal Surgery at Beijing Century Tan Hospital.

 

 

The surgical demonstrations encompassed a variety of procedures, including minimally invasive robot-assisted open reduction and CBT screw fixation fusion for lumbar spondylolisthesis, navigation-guided endoscopic posterior-lumbar discectomy, and percutaneous vertebroplasty assisted by a miniature spinal surgery robot. During these procedures, the Intelligent Woodpecker miniaturized spinal surgery robot showcased outstanding precision in preoperative planning and stable intraoperative performance. Its highly integrated, compact design effectively overcomes the limitations of conventional large-scale robotic systems—namely their bulky size and complex operation. Sub-millimeter positioning accuracy combined with full-process visual navigation significantly enhances the precision of puncture and pedicle screw placement while substantially reducing intraoperative radiation exposure. Moreover, the system covers common spinal procedures spanning the entire spine from the cervical to the lumbosacral region; when paired with intelligent planning software, it helps surgeons shorten the learning curve, standardize complex surgical workflows, and ensure safer, more controllable operations.

 

 

This series of surgical demonstrations fully showcased the intelligent Woodpecker miniaturized spinal surgery robot’s comprehensive product philosophy and technological advantages—covering all surgical approaches, the entire procedural workflow, and the complete ecosystem—thereby providing attending experts with a clinically relevant, intuitive, and vivid experience in observing and learning from intelligent surgical procedures.

 

 

In-Depth Theoretical Exploration: A Clash of Ideas, Discussing the Future of Intelligent Surgery

 

The afternoon training session focused on the core principles of orthopedic surgical robots, standardized operational procedures, and their diverse clinical applications.

 

 

To begin, President Zhang Qian of Beijing Century Altar Hospital noted in his welcoming address that this training program is being held on the occasion of the hospital’s 110th anniversary and represents a significant step in upholding the hospital’s motto—“Dedication, Harmony, Compassion, and Service to Others”—as well as in advancing the high-quality development of its disciplines. President Zhang emphasized that, under the leadership of Director Ding Lixiang, the Department of Spinal Surgery has now completed nearly 2,000 orthopedic robotic surgeries, placing it among the leaders in the field, and has successfully been accredited as the “Beijing Training Base for the National Restricted Medical Technology—Artificial Intelligence–Assisted Technology.” This training program, leveraging that base, aims to promote technology sharing and standardized clinical application, thereby jointly elevating the level of intelligent diagnosis and treatment in spinal surgery.

 

 

Professor Ding Lixiang, Director of the Spinal Surgery Department, delivered a welcoming address and presented a report. In his address, Professor Ding extended a warm welcome to the attending experts. In his presentation, titled “Orthopedic Surgical Robots Driving the Intelligent Transformation of Spinal Surgery,” he systematically outlined the core value of surgical robotics in enhancing the precision, stability, and minimally invasive nature of spinal procedures, while emphasizing its critical role in supporting physician development and optimizing clinical pathways. Drawing on a wealth of clinical cases, Professor Ding showcased innovative applications of robotic technology in complex procedures such as spinal fracture fixation, deformity correction, and minimally invasive fusion, and offered a forward-looking perspective on the emerging trend of intelligent surgery driven by “Robotics Plus” integration.

 

 

Chief Physician Zhang Gen’ai delivered a presentation on the micro spinal surgical robotic system, outlining the market development trends for orthopedic surgical robots, the operating principles of spinal surgical robots, the limitations of existing products, and clinical needs. He focused on the robot’s structural design, operational mechanisms, core advantages, and clinical outcomes, highlighting the technology’s critical role in advancing the precision, minimally invasive nature, and efficiency of spinal surgery, as well as in driving innovation in medical technology.

 

 

Mr. Ma Yan, Chairman and General Manager of Huake Run and Zhongou Zhiwei, also shared his insights from the dual perspectives of technological R&D and clinical empowerment. Focusing on microsurgical robotics and intelligent digital spinal surgery, Mr. Ma highlighted the “three alls”—“full procedure, full workflow, and full ecosystem”—that define the Smart Woodpecker microspinal surgical robot’s core advantages and its intrinsic clinical value. He underscored the robot’s pivotal role in advancing technological innovation in the field of spinal surgery, facilitating the equitable distribution of medical resources to lower-tier healthcare settings, and promoting high-quality industry development by embodying the “five ‘wins’”: “easy to deploy, fast to perform, highly precise, easy to learn, and affordable.”

 

 

As a specially invited guest at this training program, Professor Zhuo Xianglong from the Second Qilu Hospital of Shandong University delivered a presentation titled “Standard Operating Procedures for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgical Robot Procedures.” Grounded in clinical practice and the need for standardized industry development, he elucidated the core principles underlying the standardized operational framework for minimally invasive spinal surgical robot technology. Professor Zhuo systematically reviewed the procedural standards and practical key points for robot-assisted spinal surgery, providing essential guidance for the standardized implementation and regulated application of minimally invasive robotic technologies in clinical settings, and thereby playing a significant role in advancing innovation in related diagnostic and therapeutic practices.

 

 

Professor Fang Xiutong, Deputy Director of the Department of Spinal Surgery, took the use of microspinal surgical robots to assist in spinal internal fixation and fusion procedures as the central theme. He systematically outlined the key challenges inherent in conventional spinal surgery—such as prolonged operative time and substantial tissue trauma—particularly in the context of complex anatomical structures. He then highlighted the technological advantages of intelligent robotic systems, which offer full-surgical-procedure coverage, end-to-end intelligent intraoperative assistance, and broad ecosystem compatibility. These innovations effectively overcome the limitations of traditional techniques, providing robust technical support for enhancing the quality and efficiency of spinal surgical procedures while ensuring patient safety.

 

 

Attending Physician Song Jipeng provided an in-depth explanation of the synergistic application of micro spinal robots and unilateral biportal endoscopic spinal techniques. Addressing the challenges inherent in traditional methods—such as difficult intraoperative localization, high risk, and a propensity for disorientation—he highlighted the pivotal roles of robotic preoperative planning, precise intraoperative execution, and real-time intraoperative navigation in enhancing surgical safety and efficiency through human–robot collaboration, thereby offering an innovative approach to minimally invasive treatment of complex spinal disorders.

 

 

Associate Chief Physician Qu Wei shared insights on minimally invasive spinal surgery robot-assisted vertebroplasty, comparing and analyzing the limitations of conventional vertebroplasty—such as the need for repeated adjustments of the puncture needle position, frequent fluoroscopic imaging, a higher risk of bone cement leakage, and a longer patient recovery period—and highlighted the robot’s remarkable advantages in precisely guiding the puncture trajectory, reducing intraoperative radiation exposure, and minimizing surgical trauma.

 

 

Attending Physician Wang Peng provided a comprehensive, step-by-step demonstration of percutaneous vertebroplasty performed with the assistance of the Intelligent Woodpecker robot, presented through a full surgical video. The video captures every stage of the procedure, from robotic-arm installation and noninvasive tracker fixation to image acquisition and preoperative planning; from robotic-arm positioning and guidewire placement to visualized balloon expansion and bone cement injection. By meticulously dissecting the critical points of each procedural step, the video offers clinicians and medical staff a vivid, hands-on reference for familiarizing themselves with surgical protocols and mastering key technical essentials, thereby facilitating the standardized promotion and clinical application of this minimally invasive technique.

 

 

Attending Physician Qiao Junjie elaborated on the clinical value of miniaturized, robot-assisted single-channel spinal endoscopy. Addressing the key challenges inherent in conventional single-channel spinal endoscopy—namely, limited operative space, risk of localization errors, and heavy reliance on surgeon experience when treating complex spinal lesions—he provided a systematic overview of the technological advances enabled by robotics, including preoperative 3D imaging and planning, intraoperative dynamic tracking and navigation, and the integrated use of multiple instruments. These innovations have effectively expanded the scope of application for single-channel spinal endoscopy, enhanced the stability and predictability of surgical outcomes, and injected strong momentum into the intelligent and minimally invasive evolution of spinal surgery.

 

The theoretical instruction spans from macro-level development to in-depth principle analysis, and from standard protocols to detailed explanations of individual surgical techniques, all closely aligned with clinical practice. This approach provides participants with systematic, multidimensional knowledge updates and skill inspiration.

 

 

Collaborative Co-creation: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Advance Precision Surgery

 

During the plenary discussion and summary session, participants engaged in lively exchanges on technical challenges, training systems, and future trends. This training program not only serves as a showcase for cutting-edge technologies but also as a practical platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration.

 

 

Huake Run and Sino-European Zhiwei have consistently focused on the R&D and clinical application support of intelligent orthopedic surgical devices. By participating in high-level academic events like this, the companies continuously incorporate clinical feedback to refine product performance and collaborate with leading medical teams to co-develop and share technological advancements. Looking ahead, the companies will continue to partner closely with clinical experts, deepen collaboration, and drive the ongoing evolution of surgical robotics toward greater intelligence, minimally invasive capabilities, and broader accessibility—thereby contributing innovative solutions to building a new ecosystem for precision surgery and safeguarding patient health.