World's First! AI Ultrasound Robot Assists PLA General Hospital in Complex Congenital Heart Disease Procedure

Background

Atrial septal defect is a congenital heart condition in which an abnormal opening remains in the septum dividing the left and right atria. This occurs due to incomplete development, absorption or fusion processes during embryonic growth of the primary atrial septum. In some patients, particularly adults diagnosed later, the defect's anatomy including residual rims and surrounding tissue can be unfavorable.

What was achieved

On September 5, 2026, a team from the Cardiovascular Medicine Department at the Sixth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital successfully performed an interventional closure of an atrial septal defect guided by an AI ultrasound robot. The patient was a 48-year-old man whose complex anatomy had prompted multiple tertiary hospitals to recommend open-chest surgery. He sought a minimally invasive transcatheter option.

The procedure was led by Zhu Hang of the hospital's structural heart disease team in collaboration with Associate Professor Huang Gao's research group from Tsinghua University's Department of Automation. It was completed in 25 minutes with successful deployment of an occluder device. An authoritative scientific novelty search confirmed the case as the global first clinical application of an AI ultrasound robot system for this type of congenital heart disease intervention.

How it works

Transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect involves advancing a catheter, typically inserted via a vein in the groin, to the heart and positioning a specialized occluder device to seal the hole without open surgery. Real-time imaging is essential to assess defect size, borders and nearby structures, select the correct device and confirm stable placement.

In the reported procedure the AI ultrasound robot employed a mechanical arm to execute autonomous, standardized cardiac ultrasound scanning. Artificial intelligence algorithms processed the images to identify the lesion, outline defect boundaries precisely, construct a real-time three-dimensional anatomical model and plan navigation paths. This provided continuous stable guidance to the medical team, enabling accurate device selection and implantation. The system creates bidirectional intelligent coordination between image recognition and procedural manipulation, differing from manual handheld probes that can vary with operator experience and stability or from earlier robots focused mainly on device delivery.

What it means for international patients

The case illustrates progress in applying AI and robotic ultrasound guidance to minimally invasive interventions for complex structural heart disease, potentially expanding options for patients with anatomy that previously limited catheter-based approaches. Reports indicate the technology can reduce reliance on operator-dependent imaging, improve precision and shorten procedure duration in selected cases.

The People's Liberation Army General Hospital operates an International Medical Center that provides services to foreign patients including coordination support. International patients interested in care for congenital heart conditions or related procedures should contact the hospital directly to confirm eligibility based on their individual medical history, current clinical programs and suitability for specific technologies.

About the hospital

The People's Liberation Army General Hospital, commonly known as 301 Hospital and encompassing its Sixth Medical Center, is located in Beijing's Haidian District at 28 Fuxing Road. Established in 1953, it is a large comprehensive Grade 3A tertiary hospital affiliated with the People's Liberation Army that provides care to both military personnel and civilian patients.

It maintains numerous clinical departments with recognized strengths in cardiovascular medicine among other areas and participates in research collaborations including with Tsinghua University. The hospital includes a dedicated International Medical Center offering services for overseas patients, diplomats and medical tourists.