Duidao UniPath Bronchoscope Surgical Robot

MicroPort MedBot’s Duidao (独道) UniPath Electronic Bronchoscope Surgical Navigation System received NMPA approval on December 24, 2024, marking the company’s seventh approved surgical robot product and establishing it as the world’s first company to commercialize surgical robots across all five major market segments.

Product Overview

Developed by Shanghai MicroPort MicroNavi Robot Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of MicroPort MedBot, the UniPath system represents a significant advancement in bronchoscopic intervention technology for accessing peripheral pulmonary lesions. The system addresses longstanding challenges in diagnosing small lung nodules, particularly those located in the outer third of the lung beyond the reach of conventional bronchoscopy.

As a natural orifice surgical robot, UniPath accesses surgical sites through existing anatomical pathways rather than external incisions, advancing the paradigm of minimally invasive procedures toward “less trauma, no body surface incision” approaches. The system integrates electromagnetic navigation, CT-guided planning, and robotic precision control to improve diagnostic yield for peripheral lung lesions.

The approval fills a gap in China’s domestic surgical robotics portfolio, as bronchoscopic navigation robots were previously absent from NMPA-approved product categories. With UniPath’s introduction, MicroPort MedBot now offers commercially available surgical robots across laparoscopic surgery, orthopedic, vascular intervention, prostate intervention, and bronchoscopic intervention specialties.

Key Features

Duidao UniPath is an electromagnetic bronchoscope navigation robot by MicroPort MedBot, featuring robotic precision control and CT-guided path planning for peripheral pulmonary lesions beyond conventional bronchoscope reach.

• Electromagnetic Navigation: Real-time instrument tracking synchronized with pre-procedural CT imaging to guide catheter placement toward target lesions
• Robotic Precision Control: Automated instrument guidance reduces hand tremor and enables sub-millimeter positioning accuracy during navigation
• Flexible Catheter Design: Ultra-soft, ultra-slim snake-like robotic catheter designed to navigate narrow bronchial pathways without causing surface trauma
• Intelligent Path Planning: Algorithm-driven route calculation optimizes navigation through complex bronchial anatomy to reach peripheral nodules
• Multi-Modality Integration: Combines electromagnetic tracking, CT registration, and visual feedback for precise lesion localization

Technical Specifications

UniPath is an NMPA-approved (December 2024) natural-orifice bronchoscope platform, combining electromagnetic tracking with CT registration and an ultra-slim robotic catheter for transbronchial tissue access without chest wall puncture.

Clinical Applications

The UniPath system is designed for interventional pulmonology procedures requiring precise navigation to peripheral lung lesions:

Primary Applications:

• Transbronchial lung biopsy of peripheral nodules
• Early-stage lung cancer diagnosis
• Sampling of ground-glass opacities (GGOs)
• Navigation to micronodules in peripheral lung zones
• Tissue sampling for nodules <2cm diameter

Clinical Advantages: Traditional flexible bronchoscopy achieves diagnostic yields of only 30-50% for peripheral lesions due to navigation challenges beyond the 4th-5th generation bronchi. The UniPath system addresses these limitations through:

• Improved targeting accuracy: Electromagnetic navigation with robotic stabilization reduces positional drift during biopsy procedures
• Extended reach: Flexible catheter design enables access to peripheral bronchial branches beyond conventional bronchoscope reach
• Reduced pneumothorax risk: Natural orifice approach avoids chest wall puncture required by CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy
• Multiple sampling capability: Allows tissue acquisition from multiple sites in a single procedure

The system is particularly valuable as CT screening programs detect increasing numbers of small peripheral lung nodules requiring tissue diagnosis prior to surgical resection or ablation therapy.

Regulatory Status

Market Position

The UniPath approval represents a strategic milestone for MicroPort MedBot’s broad surgical robotics portfolio. The company now holds NMPA approvals across five major surgical robot categories:

1. Laparoscopic: Toumai series for general surgery
2. Orthopedic: SkyWalker for joint procedures
3. Vascular Interventional: R-ONE for endovascular procedures
4. Prostate Interventional: Mona Lisa for transperineal biopsy
5. Bronchoscopic: UniPath for pulmonary intervention

This breadth of regulatory approvals across surgical specialties positions MicroPort uniquely in the global surgical robotics market, as no other company has achieved commercialization spanning all five major segments. The natural orifice approach represented by UniPath aligns with industry trends toward less invasive procedures and faster patient recovery.

Technology Background

Bronchoscopic navigation robots emerged in response to increasing detection of small peripheral lung nodules through CT screening programs. Conventional flexible bronchoscopy faces inherent limitations in reaching peripheral lesions due to airway size constraints and navigation complexity beyond the proximal bronchial tree.

Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) technology addresses these challenges by registering pre-procedural CT scans with electromagnetic field mapping to create a virtual bronchial roadmap. The UniPath system builds on ENB foundations by adding robotic stabilization, intelligent path planning, and automated catheter steering to improve targeting accuracy.

The integration of robotic precision control differentiates UniPath from manual electromagnetic navigation systems, reducing positional drift during tissue sampling and enabling more consistent diagnostic yields across operators with varying experience levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of lung lesions can UniPath access?

The UniPath system is designed for peripheral pulmonary lesions, particularly nodules and ground-glass opacities located in the outer lung zones beyond the reach of conventional bronchoscopy. It is most applicable for micronodules and lesions requiring tissue diagnosis prior to surgical resection or ablation therapy.

How does UniPath compare to CT-guided needle biopsy?

UniPath offers a natural orifice approach through the airways, avoiding chest wall puncture and reducing pneumothorax risk compared to transthoracic needle biopsy. The bronchoscopic approach also allows multiple sampling sites in a single procedure and provides real-time visualization during tissue acquisition. However, CT-guided biopsy may remain preferable for certain peripheral lesions depending on location and patient anatomy.

What makes UniPath a surgical robot rather than a navigation tool?

The system integrates robotic precision control for automated catheter steering and stabilization, differentiating it from manual electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy. Robotic guidance reduces hand tremor, maintains position stability during biopsy, and enables algorithm-driven path planning for improved targeting accuracy.

Is this MicroPort’s first natural orifice robot?

Yes, UniPath represents MicroPort MedBot’s first approved natural orifice surgical robot. The company’s previous portfolio focused on laparoscopic (abdominal/thoracic incisions), orthopedic (surgical approach to joints), vascular (endovascular catheter), and transperineal (prostate) approaches.