Sanggu

Shenzhen Sanggu Medical Robot Co., Ltd. has focused exclusively on intelligent intravenous (IV) drug compounding robots since its establishment in 2010. Backed by strategic investment from Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group (002008.SZ), the company has developed its iDolphin series through seven generations of iteration, addressing the critical need for automated hazardous drug preparation in hospital pharmacy settings.

Company Overview

Sanggu Medical operates as a joint venture with equity participation from Hengyang Hengshan Science City Investment Development Co., Shenzhen Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group Co., Ltd. (002008.SZ), and Gaonan Yuenan Fund. The company maintains its R&D and sales headquarters in Shenzhen’s Bao’an District, housed within the COFCO (Fu’an) Robot Industrial Park.

In 2015, Sanggu established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Hengyang Sanggu Medical Robot Co., Ltd., in Hunan Province’s Hengshan Science City to serve as its manufacturing center. This dual-location structure separates R&D activities in Shenzhen from production operations in Hengyang.

The company’s R&D team comprises 31 engineers spanning mechanical engineering, electronics, automation, computer software, artificial intelligence, and medical sciences. The team composition includes 10% doctoral degree holders, 29% master’s degree holders, and 61% bachelor’s degree holders, with an average age of 35 years.

Core Products

iDolphin Series IV Compounding Robot

The iDolphin (海豚) intelligent IV compounding robot represents Sanggu’s flagship product line, designed specifically for automated preparation of hazardous drugs including chemotherapy agents and antibiotics.

iDolphin7 (7th Generation)

• Launched in 2019
• Single-batch capacity: 85 vials (64 vials + 21 ampoules + 6 IV bags + 12 dissolvers) — claimed as global highest
• Compounding speed: 10-21 seconds per drug unit
• Throughput: approximately 36 IV bags per hour (based on 5 drugs per bag)
• Dosing accuracy: ±3%
• Cleanroom class: ISO Class 5 (Class 100)
• Air filtration: HEPA H14 grade

Key Technical Features:

• Fully enclosed negative-pressure compounding chamber
• Complete separation between healthcare workers and hazardous drugs
• Multi-arm coordinated operation with AI-assisted dispensing
• Visual recognition combined with volumetric algorithms
• Automated medical waste classification and sealed disposal
• Deep learning capability for new drug formulation adaptation

Technology & Innovation

Sanggu has accumulated substantial intellectual property in pharmacy automation, holding 38 invention patents, 26 utility model patents, and 15 software copyrights. The company’s proprietary bottle-breaking technology and purification systems have achieved what the company describes as internationally advanced levels.

The iDolphin system integrates multiple sensing modalities including:

• Biomimetic visual recognition for liquid-bubble boundary detection
• Multi-sensor fusion for precise positioning
• Real-time monitoring with cloud data upload capability
• Full traceability through image and video archival

The robot supports 99% of clinically-used hazardous drugs packaged in vials (1-50ml) and ampoules (1-20ml), accommodating various IV bag formats from 50ml to 500ml including soft bags, plastic bottles, stand-up pouches, and portable chemotherapy pumps.

Market Presence

As of 2020, Sanggu had deployed over 30 iDolphin units across more than 20 hospitals in Guangdong, Chongqing, and other provinces. The company’s total project investment has exceeded RMB 100 million.

Sanggu positions itself as a pioneer in China’s IV compounding automation sector, targeting PIVAS (Pharmacy Intravenous Admixture Services) centers in hospitals where manual drug preparation poses occupational health risks to pharmacy staff through exposure to cytotoxic agents.

The company participated in the 2020 Shenzhen International Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Achievement Fair as a council member of the Shenzhen Robot Industry Technology Innovation Alliance.

Key Milestones

• 2010: Company established in Shenzhen
• 2015: Hengyang manufacturing subsidiary established in Hengshan Science City
• 2017: iDolphin6 (6th generation) officially launched
• 2019: iDolphin7 (7th generation) completed development and entered production
• 2020: Deployed 30+ units across 20+ hospitals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sanggu’s main product?

Sanggu specializes in the iDolphin series of intelligent IV compounding robots, designed for automated preparation of hazardous intravenous medications in hospital pharmacy settings.

Who are Sanggu’s investors?

Sanggu Medical received strategic investment from Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group (002008.SZ), along with equity participation from Hengyang Hengshan Science City Investment Development Co. and Gaonan Yuenan Fund.

Where are Sanggu’s robots manufactured?

Production takes place at the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Hengyang, Hunan Province, within Hengshan Science City, while R&D operations remain headquartered in Shenzhen.