Ronovo Surgical has received regulatory approval for its Carina surgical robotic platform in China.Shanghai-based Ronovo develops broad, cross-specialty robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) technology. It unveiled the Carina platform in February 2023 as a modular system built on proprietary technology to enable configurable robotic assistance for laparoscopic surgeries across multiple specialties.Carina addresses numerous pain points in minimally invasive surgeries. The company says it provides surgeons with the flexibility to choose the best instruments and the most ideal anatomical access.Last June, the company raised $46 million, with eyes on bringing the robot to the market in China.

[Get key insights on the surgical robotics market in our new Surgical Robotics Special Report]The approval covers the platform for use in urologic, gynecologic, thoracic and general surgery in China. Carina becomes the latest surgical robotic platform to receive approval in China as more medtech platforms make their way to the region. Other examples include J&J’s Monarch, which became the first minimally invasive, robotic-assisted technology approved for peripheral lung procedures in China in 2023 and Stereotaxis received approval for its Genesis robot last year. Market leader Intuitive also continues to grow in China.Commentary on the regulatory approval for Ronovo Surgical“This marks a pivotal moment in our mission to democratize robotic surgery, making it more accessible and adaptable to diverse healthcare settings worldwide,” Ronovo Surgical said in a post on LinkedIn yesterday. “By overcoming limitations of conventional robotic surgery systems, we are enabling more hospitals and surgeons to unlock the potential of robotic-assisted surgery.”Industry expert Steve Bell — who has more than 25 years of experience in the surgical robotics industry and will be a keynote speaker at our DeviceTalks Boston event, April 30–May 1 — took to LinkedIn to highlight the importance of approval.

“This is bigger news than many think,” Bell wrote. “Carina is the only modular robotic system out of China — and nothing like an Intuitive Xi clone. So it’s meaningful. It stands with the other modular systems like Medtronic Hugo RAS — and SS Innovations Mantra 3. Adding to this alternative category of surgical robots in this modular segment.

“Its small compact design should not be underestimated. And having driven it — if you can drive a da Vinci you can drive this. Yes the freedom of port placement and freedom of arm placement (up to 5) makes this attractive to those that like the laparoscopic manual paradigm. I think this is a genuine contender in this segment and offers a lot of advantages.”