Puncture Robotic

Puncture Robotic emerged from the Harbin Institute of Technology robotics ecosystem to become China’s first company to receive NMPA approval for an AI-powered hair transplant robot. Incubated by publicly listed HIT Robot Group (Shenzhen: 000584), the company combines advanced imaging technology with robotic precision to address clinical needs in minimally invasive procedures.

Company Overview

Founded in 2019 by Zhang Zhaodong, Puncture Robotic operates from Shanghai’s Songjiang district and focuses on developing fusion imaging navigation surgical robots. The company builds upon the industrial robotics expertise of its parent ecosystem while adapting these technologies for medical applications.

The founding team recognized an opportunity in the medical aesthetics market, particularly in hair restoration where the American-made ARTAS system had maintained a global monopoly since 2011. By developing a domestically manufactured alternative, Puncture Robotic aimed to make robotic hair transplantation more accessible to Chinese healthcare providers and patients.

The company has secured backing from notable investors including Shenzhen Capital Group (深创投), Huayi Capital, Jinyu Maowu, and several regional investment funds. Multiple funding rounds between 2022 and 2024 have supported product development, clinical trials, and commercialization efforts.

Core Products

HAIRO Hair Transplant Robot

The HAIRO system represents the company’s flagship product, receiving NMPA Class III medical device certification in January 2025. This made it the first domestically developed hair transplant robot approved in China, the first in Asia, and only the second globally after ARTAS.

The system employs 20-megapixel binocular cameras combined with millisecond-level AI algorithms to identify and extract hair follicles. Key specifications include extraction accuracy of 95%, precision of 0.01mm, depth accuracy of 0.05mm, and processing speed of less than 2 seconds per follicle. The 0.8-1.0mm extraction needle minimizes wound size compared to manual procedures.

By mid-2025, approximately 20-30 HAIRO units had been installed across Chinese medical institutions, with roughly 30% deployed in public hospitals including Peking University Shougang Hospital, which established China’s first dedicated hair treatment department at a Tier III, Class A hospital in 2024.

Technology Platform

Beyond hair transplantation, Puncture Robotic has developed a broader “AI+Robot+Image” soft tissue intervention platform. The company’s early work included prostate puncture navigation robots for diagnostic biopsies, though strategic focus later shifted to the higher-volume medical aesthetics market. Research continues on autonomous blood collection robots, leveraging the puncture technology platform.

Technology & Innovation

The core technology platform integrates real-time imaging guidance with robotic manipulation. The system architecture addresses several challenges specific to hair transplantation:

Follicle Recognition: AI algorithms trained to identify hair follicles and their angle of growth, with priority given to multi-stranded follicles that create denser transplant results. The system achieves up to 95% multi-follicle extraction rate compared to an average 65% rate for manual procedures.

Tissue Compensation: Saline injection hardens scalp tissue to prevent deformation during puncture, reducing bleeding and improving extraction consistency.

Precision Control: Depth control prevents damage to hair papilla while ensuring complete follicle harvesting. Robotic consistency eliminates variability inherent in manual extraction.

Market Presence

The Chinese hair restoration market has grown substantially as hair loss affects increasing numbers of consumers across demographics. Prior to HAIRO’s approval, ARTAS systems were priced between 6-8 million CNY in the Chinese market. HAIRO’s pricing at approximately one quarter of this level has made robotic hair transplantation economically viable for a broader range of medical institutions.

Puncture Robotic is pursuing CE marking and FDA clearance to expand into Southeast Asian and European markets. International expansion is expected to begin following regulatory approvals anticipated in 2026.

Key Milestones

• 2019: Company founded in Shanghai, incubated by HIT Robot Group
• 2021: Completed angel round funding; developed prostate puncture navigation robot
• 2022: Series A funding for NMPA registration and clinical trials
• 2023: Series A+ and A++ rounds totaling approximately 200 million CNY
• 2024: Pre-B and Pre-B+ funding rounds; advanced clinical validation
• 2025: HAIRO received NMPA Class III certification (January); commercial launch (March)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HAIRO and how does it compare to ARTAS?

HAIRO is an AI-powered hair transplant robot developed by Puncture Robotic. It performs follicular unit extraction (FUE) similar to the American ARTAS system but at significantly lower cost. HAIRO uses 20-megapixel binocular cameras and achieves 95% extraction accuracy with 0.01mm precision.

Is Puncture Robotic publicly traded?

No, Puncture Robotic is a private company. However, its parent company HIT Robot Group (哈工智能) is publicly traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under ticker 000584.SZ.

Where can patients receive HAIRO hair transplant procedures?

HAIRO systems are installed at approximately 20-30 medical institutions across China as of mid-2025, including public hospitals such as Peking University Shougang Hospital and various private aesthetic clinics.

What other products does Puncture Robotic develop?

Beyond hair transplantation, the company’s technology platform supports puncture robots for tumor intervention, biopsy, and anesthesia applications. Research continues on autonomous blood collection robots.