Anzhen Completes First PCI in Multicenter Clinical Study of Domestic Vascular Interventional Robot

Background

Beijing Anzhen Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, serves as a leading facility for cardiovascular disease treatment in China. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become a standard minimally invasive treatment for coronary heart disease, involving catheter-based techniques to restore blood flow in narrowed arteries. To further advance precision and safety, particularly for complex lesions, domestically developed robotic systems for vascular interventions have undergone clinical evaluation.

A multicenter clinical study evaluating one such domestic vascular interventional robot was formally initiated on May 30, 2025, during the 19th Oriental Congress of Cardiology (OCC 2025). Beijing Anzhen Hospital acted as one of the core participating institutions in this trial.

What was achieved

On September 23, 2025, a team from the hospital's Coronary Heart Disease Center third ward, led by Director Zeng Yong, successfully carried out the first PCI procedure as part of this multicenter clinical study using the domestic robot. The patient, a 67-year-old man presenting with chest tightness for three months, had coronary imaging indicating severe mid-segment stenosis of the left circumflex artery (LCX) accompanied by a significant vessel angle, posing challenges for conventional manual techniques.

Following assessment, the team proceeded with robot-assisted PCI. Guidewires were advanced to the distal segments of the left anterior descending and LCX arteries under robotic guidance. Balloon predilation was performed, followed by use of a scoring balloon and deployment of one stent in the LCX. The entire operation lasted approximately 40 minutes. Multiple-angle angiography post-procedure demonstrated satisfactory stent wall apposition and expansion without edge dissection or other complications.

Zeng Yong remarked that unlike traditional PCI, the robotic method permitted operation from a control room separate from the patient, eliminating the need for the operator to wear heavy lead protective gear and thereby reducing X-ray radiation exposure. Critical steps including guidewire control, balloon and stent delivery were executed via the robot.

How it works

In standard PCI, access is gained through a peripheral artery, typically via the radial or femoral approach. A catheter is guided to the coronary arteries using fluoroscopic X-ray imaging. A thin guidewire is maneuvered past the stenotic lesion. A balloon catheter is then positioned and inflated to widen the artery by compressing atherosclerotic plaque. Frequently, a stent - an expandable metal mesh - is left in place to prevent re-narrowing.

Robot-assisted PCI employs a system where the interventional cardiologist operates controls at a shielded console in an adjacent room rather than at the bedside. The robotic platform, positioned tableside, uses mechanical arms and precise actuators to replicate and enhance the physician's commands for advancing, retracting, and rotating wires, catheters, balloons, and stents. This provides greater stability and sub-millimeter accuracy, advantageous for navigating tortuous or acutely angled vessels such as the LCX lesion in this case. Real-time imaging feedback guides the process while substantially lowering radiation dose to the operator, who avoids prolonged proximity to the X-ray source.

What it means for international patients

Beijing Anzhen Hospital performs a large number of cardiovascular interventional procedures annually and has been involved in research on robotic PCI systems. The completion of this first case in the domestic robot multicenter study indicates progress in integrating such technology for complex coronary interventions at the institution.

International patients interested in advanced cardiac care in China should note that specific robotic procedures may be subject to ongoing study protocols or regulatory status. Eligibility for treatment with these systems, or participation in related research, must be assessed on an individual basis. Patients are advised to contact the hospital directly to confirm current availability, suitability for their medical condition, and details of any international patient support services.

About the hospital

Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University is a Grade 3A comprehensive hospital in Beijing founded in 1984 by academician Wu Yingkai. Specializing in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, it operates as the National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and a national regional medical center output hospital. It maintains campuses in the Chaoyang and Tongzhou districts.

The hospital has more than 4,000 staff members. It holds one national key discipline in cardiovascular internal medicine and five national key clinical specialties including cardiovascular medicine, cardiac and great vessel surgery, geriatrics, gynecology, and critical care medicine. Since 2021 it has ranked first nationally in the volume of single-center cardiology and cardiac surgery cases for consecutive years. The facility focuses on diagnosis, treatment, research, and education for complex cardiovascular conditions.