metaFlow Waterjet Surgical Robot

Developed by Healinno Medical, the metaFlow high-energy waterjet autonomous surgical robot represents China’s first domestically developed platform for aquablation-based prostate surgery. The system combines ultrasound imaging guidance with robotic control of high-velocity saline jets to achieve thermal-free tissue ablation for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment.

Product Overview

The metaFlow system addresses a significant gap in China’s surgical robotics landscape. While robot-assisted aquablation has demonstrated clinical and commercial viability through PROCEPT BioRobotics’ Aquabeam system in Western markets, Chinese urologists previously lacked access to domestic alternatives offering this modality.

Healinno Medical’s approach emphasizes autonomous execution capabilities. Unlike conventional surgical robots that primarily extend surgeon dexterity, metaFlow is designed to perform the tissue resection procedure automatically after the surgeon completes pre-operative planning. This automation reduces procedure time while standardizing surgical outcomes across different operator experience levels.

The platform entered NMPA’s Innovative Medical Device Special Review Program in December 2023, qualifying for expedited regulatory review. Multicenter registration clinical trials commenced in early 2024 following the first-in-human procedure at Beijing Hospital.

Key Features

Ultrasound-Guided Real-Time Planning: The system employs intraoperative ultrasound imaging rather than conventional cystoscopic visualization. Surgeons delineate the target ablation zone on ultrasound images while the system automatically identifies and protects critical structures including the verumontanum, bladder neck, and ejaculatory ducts.

Autonomous Multi-Axis Execution: Following surgical planning confirmation, the robotic platform automatically executes the ablation sequence. The multi-axis control system coordinates instrument positioning with waterjet activation to achieve conformal resection of the planned treatment volume.

High-Energy Waterjet Ablation: Physiological saline is accelerated to supersonic velocities, creating a cavitation effect capable of ablating prostatic adenoma tissue. The thermal-free mechanism preserves surrounding neural structures responsible for erectile and urinary continence functions.

Multi-Modal Monitoring: Real-time data integration provides surgeons with continuous visualization of procedure progress, enabling intervention if required while maintaining hands-free operation during routine execution.

Technical Specifications

For benign prostatic hyperplasia, Healinno’s metaFlow uses ultrasound-guided autonomous waterjet ablation with no thermal energy, reducing the resection phase from ~60 minutes to ~5 minutes.

Clinical Applications

The metaFlow system is designed specifically for surgical treatment of moderate to severe benign prostatic hyperplasia. BPH affects a substantial portion of men over age 50, with symptoms including urinary frequency, urgency, weak stream, and incomplete bladder emptying.

Traditional surgical approaches including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and laser enucleation procedures rely on thermal energy that can damage adjacent neural and vascular structures. These thermal effects contribute to complications including retrograde ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.

Waterjet ablation offers a fundamentally different tissue removal mechanism. By eliminating thermal energy from the resection process, the technology preserves temperature-sensitive structures while achieving effective adenoma removal. Clinical data from completed trial cases indicate procedure times reduced from approximately 60 minutes to approximately 5 minutes for the resection phase.

The standardized autonomous execution addresses another clinical challenge. BPH surgical outcomes traditionally vary significantly based on surgeon experience and technique. metaFlow’s automated resection theoretically enables consistent results regardless of individual operator skill levels.

Regulatory Status

The metaFlow system and its companion metaBlade disposable waterjet instrument both received NMPA Innovative Medical Device Special Review designation in December 2023. This designation expedites regulatory review but does not guarantee approval.

Clinical trials are conducted under NMPA oversight at multiple centers including Beijing Hospital, where Professor Liu Ming’s urology team performed the first procedure in January 2024.

Consumables

The metaBlade disposable waterjet blade is a single-use surgical instrument designed exclusively for the metaFlow platform. Each procedure requires a new metaBlade unit. This consumable model generates recurring revenue while ensuring optimal performance and sterility for each case.

Frequently Asked Questions

What surgeries can metaFlow perform?

metaFlow is designed specifically for surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The system performs transurethral resection of prostatic adenoma tissue using high-energy waterjet ablation. It is not designed for cancer treatment, though Healinno Medical’s pipeline includes additional products targeting other urological conditions.

How does metaFlow compare to the da Vinci system?

metaFlow and da Vinci represent fundamentally different surgical robot categories. Da Vinci is a multi-purpose telemanipulation system that enhances surgeon dexterity for laparoscopic procedures across many specialties. metaFlow is a single-purpose autonomous system designed for one specific procedure type. The platforms are not competitive alternatives but rather address different clinical needs.

Is metaFlow approved for clinical use?

As of January 2026, metaFlow remains in registration clinical trials and has not received NMPA marketing authorization. The system entered NMPA’s expedited review pathway in December 2023. Commercial availability depends on successful completion of clinical trials and regulatory approval.