VAS Medical

VAS Medical operates as China’s pioneering developer of neurovascular interventional surgical robots, achieving a historic milestone in March 2023 when its VAS HERO system became the first domestically developed vascular interventional robot to receive NMPA approval—and the first neurovascular interventional robot approved anywhere in the world.

Company Overview

Founded in September 2021, Beijing VAS Medical Technology Co., Ltd. emerged from clinical innovation at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, one of China’s premier neurosurgery centers. Professor Li Youxiang, a leading neurointerventional specialist at Tiantan Hospital, established the company to commercialize years of research conducted under national science and technology programs.

The company name “VAS” derives from the Latin word for “vessel,” reflecting its singular focus on vascular interventional robotics. VAS Medical operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Yidu Hebei Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., which serves as the NMPA registration holder and manufacturing entity based in Baoding, Hebei Province.

The founding team combines clinical expertise from Tiantan Hospital with engineering talent and medical device commercialization experience from multinational pharmaceutical companies. This clinical-engineering collaboration has proven essential in developing a robot system that addresses real-world procedural challenges rather than theoretical capabilities.

Core Products

VAS HERO Neurovascular Interventional Robot

The VAS HERO system represents the company’s flagship product—a master-slave surgical robot designed specifically for cerebrovascular interventional procedures. The system received NMPA Class III medical device approval in March 2023 (Registration No.: 国械注准20233010311), marking it as China’s first approved vascular interventional surgical robot.

Unlike competing systems that focus on cardiac interventions, VAS HERO targets neurovascular applications, enabling physicians to perform cerebral angiography procedures with robotic precision while operating from a radiation-shielded control station.

Technology & Innovation

VAS Medical’s approach centers on what the company terms “angiography robotics”—the concept of automating the complete cerebral angiography workflow rather than isolated procedural steps. This holistic approach distinguishes VAS HERO from international competitors that typically address only partial aspects of vascular interventional procedures.

The system architecture employs a master-slave control framework where the surgeon manipulates controllers at a shielded workstation while robotic arms precisely replicate movements at the patient bedside. Key technical capabilities include:

• Remote manipulation of catheters and guidewires with sub-millimeter precision
• Real-time force feedback transmission to the operator console
• Integration with fluoroscopic imaging for continuous procedural guidance
• Sterile barrier systems enabling non-contact transmission mechanisms

The company has accumulated dozens of patents covering robotic motion control, image navigation, and sterile interface technologies. Development originated from Ministry of Science and Technology key research programs and has progressed through the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s “Open Competition” initiative.

Market Presence

VAS Medical’s commercial strategy prioritizes tier-one academic medical centers with established neurointerventional programs. The company has established training partnerships with provincial flagship hospitals to develop standardized surgical protocols and build physician familiarity with robotic-assisted procedures.

Clinical validation of VAS HERO involved a multicenter trial across three major hospitals: Beijing Chaoyang Hospital (affiliated with Capital Medical University), First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, and Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital. The trial enrolled 260 patients—among the largest neurovascular robot studies conducted internationally at that time—achieving 100% procedural success with no postoperative complications.

Manufacturing operations are consolidated at the Baoding facility within the Zhongguancun Innovation Center, where the company maintains ISO 13485-certified cleanroom production and a clinical demonstration surgical suite.

Key Milestones

• 2021: Company established in Beijing; originated from National Key R&D Program
• 2021: Initiated multicenter clinical trial across three hospitals
• 2023-03: Completed 260-patient clinical trial with 100% success rate
• 2023-03: VAS HERO received NMPA Class III approval—first vascular interventional robot in China
• 2023-03: Closed ¥100M angel round led by Guoke Investment and Nuoyu Capital
• 2023-08: Received strategic investment from Guoke Investment
• 2023-10: Established Yidu Hebei subsidiary in Baoding for manufacturing scale-up
• 2024: VAS HERO system deployed at multiple domestic hospitals
• 2025: International expansion initiatives launched targeting European markets

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the relationship between VAS Medical and Yidu Medical?

Yidu Hebei Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. (易度河北机器人科技有限公司) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beijing VAS Medical Technology Co., Ltd. Yidu Hebei serves as the NMPA registration holder for the VAS HERO system and operates the manufacturing facility in Baoding, Hebei Province. Both entities function as part of the same corporate group under the VAS Medical brand.

What procedures can VAS HERO perform?

VAS HERO is currently approved for percutaneous intracranial cerebral angiography procedures. The robot assists in the delivery and withdrawal of angiography catheters and guidewires under image guidance. The system is designed for diagnostic cerebral angiography rather than therapeutic interventions in its current approved indication.

Is VAS Medical publicly traded?

No, VAS Medical remains a privately held company. The company completed its angel financing round in 2023 and has received subsequent strategic investments to support production scale-up and market expansion.