MEIO CardiNav

MEIO CardiNav Medical focuses exclusively on cardiac intervention surgical robot technology, combining clinical expertise from PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) cardiology department with electromagnetic navigation research from Zhejiang University. The company achieved a significant milestone in October 2025 when its TITIAN cardiac electrophysiology intervention control system became the first such device to receive NMPA approval through the innovation fast-track pathway.

Company Overview

Founded in June 2018 by Dr. Chen Yuemeng and Professor Lu Caiyi (former director of cardiology at 301 Hospital), MEIO CardiNav emerged from a collaboration bridging Silicon Valley engineering experience with three decades of cardiac intervention clinical practice. Dr. Chen previously founded Hanlin Technology, a wearable health monitoring company, before pivoting to surgical robotics after recognizing unmet needs in cardiac ablation procedures.

The company maintains its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, with additional R&D centers in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Designated as a Zhejiang Province “Specialized and Sophisticated” enterprise, MEIO CardiNav has assembled a patent portfolio exceeding 160 domestic and international filings covering catheter navigation, electromagnetic control systems, and sheath-catheter integrated manipulation technologies.

Core Products

TITIAN Cardiac Electrophysiology Intervention Control System

TITIAN represents China’s first domestically developed dual-arm cardiac electrophysiology surgical robot to complete multicenter clinical trials and receive NMPA approval (October 2025). The system entered the NMPA Innovation Medical Device Special Review Program (green channel) in March 2023, reflecting regulatory recognition of its novel approach.

Key technical specifications include sub-millimeter catheter positioning accuracy, dual-arm simultaneous control of both sheath and ablation catheter, and real-time visualization of fixed-curve sheath positions during three-dimensional mapping. The system allows physicians to perform procedures from outside the radiation zone, reducing occupational X-ray exposure while maintaining precise control.

Manti One-Stop Combined Surgery System (In Development)

The Manti system targets combined electrophysiology catheter ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion procedures, addressing both rhythm control and stroke prevention in a single intervention. This represents a global first in integrated surgical robot platforms for combined cardiac procedures.

Raphaello Magnetic Navigation Flexible Surgery System (In Development)

Building on the company’s electromagnetic expertise, Raphaello employs magnetic field-guided flexible catheter technology derived from Zhejiang University’s electromagnetic laboratory research. The flexible catheter approach aims to reduce cardiac perforation risks compared to rigid catheter manipulation while enabling access to anatomically challenging ablation sites.

Technology Platform

MEIO CardiNav’s technology draws from GPS satellite navigation principles applied to intracardiac catheter positioning. The electromagnetic navigation platform generates controllable magnetic fields around the heart, enabling precise manipulation of magnetically-responsive flexible catheters without the need for manual manipulation forces that can cause tissue damage.

The dual-arm robot architecture simultaneously controls the introducer sheath and ablation catheter through independent servo systems, replicating the two-handed technique experienced electrophysiologists use while providing quantified position feedback. This approach addresses a fundamental limitation in conventional three-dimensional mapping systems: the inability to visualize fixed-curve sheath positions.

Clinical Applications

The TITIAN system targets cardiac arrhythmia ablation procedures, with particular emphasis on atrial fibrillation treatment. Clinical data from registration trials demonstrated a 5.2% reduction in 12-month AF recurrence rates compared to manual procedures, attributed to improved catheter-tissue contact stability during ablation.

The system accommodates mainstream pressure-sensing ablation catheters and adjustable-curve introducer sheaths from multiple manufacturers, allowing physicians to use familiar consumables while benefiting from robotic control precision.

Development History

• 2018: Company founded in Shaoxing; completed initial R&D for Raphaello magnetic navigation system
• 2019: Laboratory prototype development and animal experiment initiation
• 2020: Won first prize at China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Biomedical)
• 2021: Completed TITIAN animal experiments; closed Pre-A funding
• 2023: TITIAN entered NMPA innovation green channel; first human clinical trials at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
• 2024: Completed multicenter registration clinical trials
• 2025: TITIAN received NMPA approval (October 31)

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes MEIO CardiNav different from other cardiac robot companies?

MEIO CardiNav focuses specifically on cardiac electrophysiology procedures rather than general vascular intervention. The company’s dual-arm architecture addresses the specific requirements of catheter ablation, where simultaneous sheath and catheter manipulation is essential. The electromagnetic navigation technology in development also differentiates it from purely mechanical robotic approaches.

Is TITIAN available for commercial use?

TITIAN received NMPA approval in October 2025, making it commercially available in China. The system is the first domestically developed cardiac electrophysiology surgical robot to achieve this regulatory milestone.

What procedures can TITIAN perform?

TITIAN is indicated for cardiac arrhythmia ablation procedures, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and other complex arrhythmias requiring three-dimensional mapping and catheter ablation.