Zhongke Hongtai

Beijing Zhongke Hongtai Medical Technology emerged from nearly two decades of research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Automation, making it one of China’s earliest players in vascular interventional robotics. Founded in 2018 under CAS’s scientist entrepreneurship program, the company develops what it describes as the world’s first multi-channel pan-vascular interventional surgical robot capable of handling complex bifurcation lesions.

Company Overview

Zhongke Hongtai represents a technology transfer success story from China’s premier research institution. The founding team, led by Professor Zengguang Hou—an IEEE Fellow and recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars—brings expertise from over ten national-level research projects, including China’s first 863 Plan project focused on vascular interventional robots.

The company operates from Beijing and has accumulated more than 100 intellectual property assets, including 15 Chinese patents and 2 international patents specifically protecting its core robotic technologies. It holds designations as a National High-Tech Enterprise, Beijing “Specialized and Sophisticated” SME, Zhongguancun High-Tech Enterprise, and Zhongguancun Golden Seed Enterprise.

In December 2025, Zhongke Hongtai secured ¥40 million in strategic investment, with Jindalai (688057.SH) contributing ¥30 million for a 10% stake and Sugang providing ¥10 million. The financing will support continued product development and clinical advancement toward NMPA registration.

Core Products

Multi-Channel Pan-Vascular Interventional Surgical Robot

The company’s flagship product addresses a critical limitation in existing vascular interventional robots: the inability to deliver multiple guidewires simultaneously. Most cardiovascular conditions involving bifurcation lesions require coordinated manipulation of two or more guidewires—a capability that current commercial systems lack.

Zhongke Hongtai’s robot employs a biomimetic finger design enabling independent axial movement and rotation of multiple guidewires. The system integrates proprietary force sensing with real-time haptic feedback to the operator console, addressing one of the persistent challenges in remote interventional procedures.

The product has been registered with NMPA under the name “Coronary Artery Interventional Surgery Control System” and entered the Innovative Medical Device Special Review Pathway (Green Channel), indicating regulatory recognition of its technical innovation and clinical value. The company targets NMPA registration certificate by 2026.

Technology & Innovation

Zhongke Hongtai’s technical platform builds on research supported by China’s 863 Program and National Key R&D Program. Core technological breakthroughs include:

Multi-Channel Coordinated Control: Proprietary algorithms enable synchronized manipulation of multiple interventional devices, supporting complex procedures like bifurcation stenting that require coordinated guidewire and catheter movements.

Biomimetic Continuous Delivery: The finger-like mechanical design mimics human manipulation patterns, allowing natural pushing, rotating, and positioning movements for various interventional devices including guidewires, balloons, and stents.

Force Sensing and Feedback: Closed-loop force detection provides tactile feedback to operators, a feature that remains technically challenging in the field and critical for procedural safety.

AI-Powered Image Navigation: Integration of real-time imaging with robotic control enables semi-autonomous navigation assistance.

5G Remote Surgery Capability: The system demonstrated remote operation in a 2021 Beijing-to-Shanghai experiment—claimed as the world’s first 5G remote Culotte technique procedure on an animal model. In 2023, the company performed a live remote robot-assisted intervention broadcast at the Oriental Congress of Cardiology.

Clinical Development

The multi-channel vascular robot has completed seven human research clinical cases and dozens of animal experiments. Key clinical milestones include:

• 2021: World’s first 5G remote Culotte bifurcation stenting procedure (Beijing to Shanghai, animal model)
• 2023: First live broadcast of remote robot-assisted coronary intervention at a major cardiovascular conference (OCC 2023)
• 2024: Latest-generation prototype completed, animal validation finished
• 2024: Entered NMPA Innovative Device Green Channel
• 2026 (projected): NMPA registration certificate

Financial Status

As a pre-revenue medical device company, Zhongke Hongtai reported limited operating income in recent years. According to public disclosures from the December 2025 investment round:

• 2024 revenue: ¥132,100
• 2024 net loss: ¥11.4 million
• January-September 2025 revenue: ¥102,600
• January-September 2025 net loss: ¥5.5 million

The company’s asset base totaled ¥6.16 million as of September 2025, with equity of ¥3.48 million prior to the new funding round.

Key Milestones

• 2008: Core team begins vascular interventional robot research at CAS Institute of Automation under first 863 Plan project in the field
• 2018: Zhongke Hongtai formally established as CAS technology transfer company
• 2021: First 5G remote bifurcation stenting experiment (Beijing-Shanghai)
• 2023: Live remote surgery demonstration at Oriental Congress of Cardiology
• 2024: Product enters NMPA Innovative Device Green Channel
• 2024: Won first prize at National Medical-Engineering Integration Entrepreneurship Competition
• 2025: Completed ¥40 million strategic financing round

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Zhongke Hongtai’s robot different from other vascular interventional systems?

The key differentiator is multi-channel capability. While existing commercial vascular robots like R-ONE can deliver a single guidewire, Zhongke Hongtai’s system handles multiple guidewires simultaneously. This enables treatment of complex bifurcation lesions requiring techniques like Culotte or T-stenting that involve coordinated manipulation of two or more wires—procedures that currently cannot be performed robotically with single-channel systems.

Is Zhongke Hongtai’s vascular robot approved for clinical use?

Not yet. The product entered NMPA’s Innovative Medical Device Special Review Pathway (Green Channel) in 2024, which provides priority review but does not constitute approval. The company projects obtaining NMPA registration in 2026. Current human cases have been conducted under research protocols rather than commercial authorization.

Who founded Zhongke Hongtai?

The company was founded by Professor Zengguang Hou, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Automation. Professor Hou is an IEEE Fellow and recipient of China’s National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, with research focus on medical robotics and artificial intelligence. Dr. Liang Peng, also from CAS, serves as co-founder and CEO, bringing over a decade of medical robotics research experience.