On August 24, 2025, Yuanhua Robotics’ KUNWU® Robotic Orthopaedic Surgical System has successfully assisted in a milestone unicompartmental knee arthroplasty performed at a county hospital in Nagqu, Tibet, located 4,000 meters above sea level. This represents the first robotic knee replacement surgery conducted at the county level on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The operation was led by Professor Nan Shaokui from the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, with real-time online observation by over 14,000 clinical orthopedic specialists across China. Despite oxygen levels below 50% of those at sea level, the KUNWU® system demonstrated sub-millimeter precision and stability throughout the procedure.

Since its first high-altitude operation in 2023, Shenzhen-based Yuanhua Robotics’ KUNWU® platform has now performed nearly 100 robotic-assisted joint replacements on the Plateau. The system has been specifically optimized for low-oxygen, low-pressure, and extreme temperature conditions (from -20°C to 40°C), ensuring reliable performance in challenging environments.

The event also marked the launch of a structured medical aid program aimed at establishing smart orthopedics capabilities in remote regions. Supported by the National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics and Sports Rehabilitation, the initiative includes training local medical teams to perform standardized robotic-assisted surgeries independently.

Dr. Li Aili, CEO of Yuanhua Robotics, emphasized that the company has developed a replicable model for bringing advanced surgical robotics to underserved areas. The KUNWU® system has now performed over 5,000 clinical procedures worldwide, including the highest-altitude robotic surgeries ever recorded.

This achievement underscores both the technical maturity of China’s domestic surgical robots and a growing commitment to equitable access to digital surgery technologies in hard-to-reach regions.

August 25, 2025, MedChina