TRex-RS Hip Replacement Robot

The TRex-RS orthopedic joint surgical navigation system, developed by Longwell Medical in Shanghai, provides robot-assisted guidance for total hip arthroplasty procedures with claimed positioning accuracy of 0.6-0.7mm.

Product Overview

TRex-RS addresses a specific gap in orthopedic robotics: full-process coverage of hip replacement surgery. While many competing systems focus primarily on acetabular cup positioning or femoral stem alignment individually, TRex-RS is engineered to participate in all eight stages of the hip arthroplasty workflow. This design philosophy aims to provide consistent robotic precision throughout the entire procedure rather than limiting assistance to selected surgical steps.

The system uses CT-based preoperative planning combined with intraoperative navigation. Surgeons generate 3D bone models from CT data, plan prosthesis positioning parameters, and then execute the surgical plan with real-time robotic guidance and feedback.

Key Features

TRex-RS is Longwell Medical’s orthopedic robot covering all eight stages of total hip arthroplasty with 0.6–0.7mm tracking accuracy and a wireless dual-body design that removes the need for a separate surgeon console.

• Full Surgical Coverage: Participates in all eight stages of total hip arthroplasty—femoral neck osteotomy, acetabular reaming, acetabular prosthesis implantation, femoral canal opening, distal femoral broaching, proximal femoral broaching, femoral prosthesis implantation, and reduction testing

• High Precision Tracking: 6 degrees of freedom real-time tracking system with overall error margin of 0.6-0.7mm

• Wireless Architecture: Dual-body wireless design eliminates the need for a separate surgeon console, allowing direct robotic arm manipulation from the sterile field

• Locator-Free Technology: Intraoperative tracking does not require working-end locators attached to the patient, simplifying the surgical setup

• Autonomous Surgeon Control: Operating surgeon maintains independent control while interacting with the robotic arm, supporting flexible adjustments based on intraoperative findings

Technical Specifications

TRex-RS uses CT-based 3D modeling with 6-DOF real-time tracking to guide all eight steps of hip replacement, from femoral neck osteotomy through reduction testing, at 0.6–0.7mm accuracy.

Clinical Applications

The TRex-RS system is indicated for robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty in patients with advanced hip joint disease. Multicenter randomized controlled trials have evaluated the system across multiple clinical parameters:

Acetabular Component Positioning: The system guides acetabular cup placement with targets for anteversion and inclination angles within established safe zones.

Femoral Stem Alignment: CT-based planning and robotic execution address femoral component positioning, canal fill ratio optimization, and stem angulation control.

Leg Length Management: Intraoperative tracking and planning assist in minimizing post-operative leg length discrepancy.

Published clinical data from RCTs conducted at multiple Chinese hospitals have documented comparative outcomes between robot-assisted and manual total hip arthroplasty, with findings published in International Journal of Surgery and Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology.

Regulatory Status

The TRex-RS system has completed multicenter randomized controlled clinical trials in China. As of January 2026, the product remains in the NMPA registration pathway with approval pending.

Clinical Evidence

The TRex-RS has been evaluated through formal clinical research protocols:

Multicenter RCT (2021): A randomized controlled trial conducted from March to December 2021 compared TRex-RS assisted total hip arthroplasty against conventional manual technique. Results demonstrated accuracy in achieving planned component positioning parameters.

Cadaveric Validation: Pre-clinical cadaveric studies established baseline accuracy for acetabular and femoral component placement using the robotic system.

Comparative Meta-Analysis: The TRex-RS has been included in network meta-analyses comparing multiple RA-THA systems (including MAKO, ROBODOC, Tianji, Jianjia), contributing to the growing body of comparative effectiveness data in orthopedic robotics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes TRex-RS different from other hip replacement robots?

TRex-RS is designed for full-process surgical coverage, participating in all eight steps of hip arthroplasty rather than focusing on only acetabular or femoral components. The wireless dual-body architecture also eliminates the need for a separate surgeon console, allowing direct robotic arm control from the sterile field.

Has TRex-RS been tested in clinical trials?

Yes. Longwell Medical has completed multicenter randomized controlled trials comparing robot-assisted versus manual total hip arthroplasty. Results have been published in peer-reviewed international journals including the International Journal of Surgery and Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology.

When will TRex-RS receive NMPA approval?

The system is currently in the NMPA registration process following completion of clinical trials. No specific approval timeline has been publicly announced as of January 2026.

How does TRex-RS compare to MAKO in clinical studies?

Network meta-analyses including both systems have been published, comparing parameters such as operative time, leg length discrepancy, and component positioning accuracy. TRex-RS demonstrated smaller leg length discrepancy compared to conventional surgery, though with longer operative times typical of robot-assisted procedures.