Dessight

Dessight Biomedical specializes in ultra-microsurgical robot systems designed to exceed human physiological limitations. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Hangzhou, the company has developed ophthalmic and microsurgical robots achieving 3-micron motion precision, positioning itself among global technology leaders in this specialized field.

Company Overview

Dessight Biomedical was established in July 2021 by Dr. Cui Di, whose background includes experience at leading German robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories, as well as Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies. The founding team draws expertise from Technical University of Munich, Zhejiang University, and German medical device firms.

The company has earned recognition as a National High-tech Enterprise, Zhejiang Province Specialized and Sophisticated SME, and co-builder of a provincial key laboratory. Its intellectual property portfolio includes over 40 Chinese patents and one US patent, covering core technologies in precision motion control and flexible robotic structures.

Dessight has secured multiple funding rounds from notable investors including Dachenfinancial, Orion Capital, Panlin Capital, and Shangcheng Capital, with total disclosed funding approaching CNY 100 million by mid-2025.

Core Products

MikroElena Ophthalmic Surgical Robot

The flagship product targets retinal and vitreous surgeries where human hand tremor (approximately 100 microns) poses significant limitations. MikroElena achieves 3-micron motion precision through proprietary master-slave control systems and a novel flexible mechanism design.

In July 2023, the system completed Asia’s first robot-assisted retinal surgery at Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital. The procedure involved subretinal injection using a 100-micron diameter microneedle. Clinical data indicates the system improves subretinal injection success rates from 85.5% to 100%.

In March 2025, MikroElena became the first ophthalmic surgical robot in China to enter NMPA’s Innovative Medical Device Special Review pathway, accelerating its path to commercial approval.

General Microsurgical Robot

The company’s second major product line addresses broader microsurgical applications including lymphatic surgery, nerve repair, and reconstructive procedures. The system features approximately 20 degrees of freedom and enables anastomosis of vessels as small as 0.3-0.8mm in diameter.

In January 2025, this platform achieved two notable firsts: the world’s first robot-assisted cervical deep lymphatic-venous anastomosis for Alzheimer’s disease treatment, and China’s first robot-assisted lymphedema reconstruction surgery.

Technology & Innovation

Dessight’s technical platform centers on three core capabilities:

Ultra-precise Motion Control: The 3-micron precision represents approximately 30 times finer resolution than natural human hand tremor, enabling procedures previously considered beyond human capability.

Multi-axis Master-Slave Control: The system architecture allows intuitive surgeon control while filtering physiological limitations and amplifying precise movements.

Flexible Mechanism Design: Proprietary flexible structures and miniaturized wrist-type instruments enable access to confined surgical spaces while maintaining stability.

Clinical Applications

The company’s ophthalmic robot targets conditions affecting over 40 million patients in China, with particular focus on macular surgeries and retinal vein procedures. The macular region measures only 1.5mm in diameter and 200 microns in thickness, requiring precision beyond manual surgical capabilities.

Applications include:

• Subretinal injection for gene and cell therapies
• Macular membrane peeling
• Retinal vein cannulation
• Vitreoretinal surgery assistance

The microsurgical platform addresses procedures across multiple specialties including ENT, lymphatic surgery, neurosurgery, and plastic surgery.

Market Presence

Dessight’s products have been deployed in dozens of hospitals across China, treating hundreds of patients as of mid-2025. The company collaborates with leading institutions including Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital for clinical development and validation.

Featured coverage in China Daily, People’s Daily, and CCTV has highlighted the company’s contributions to domestic medical device innovation and import substitution efforts.

Key Milestones

• 2021-07: Company founded in Hangzhou
• 2023-07: First robot-assisted retinal surgery in Asia completed
• 2023-12: Pre-A++ funding from Dachen Financial
• 2025-01: World’s first robot-assisted LVA for Alzheimer’s treatment
• 2025-03: First ophthalmic robot entering NMPA innovation pathway
• 2025-06: Series A funding (~CNY 100M) completed

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes Dessight’s technology from other surgical robots?

Dessight specializes in ultra-microsurgery requiring precision beyond human physiological limits. While most surgical robots operate at millimeter-scale precision, Dessight’s 3-micron accuracy enables procedures on structures as small as 100 microns, such as retinal blood vessels and lymphatic channels.

Is Dessight’s ophthalmic robot approved for commercial use?

As of early 2026, MikroElena has entered NMPA’s Innovative Medical Device Special Review pathway but has not yet received final commercial approval. The company is conducting multi-center registration clinical trials.

What clinical conditions can Dessight’s robots address?

The ophthalmic platform targets vitreoretinal conditions including macular diseases, submacular hemorrhage, and procedures requiring subretinal injection such as gene therapy delivery. The microsurgical platform addresses lymphedema treatment, nerve repair, and vascular anastomosis across multiple surgical specialties.