"Hengqin is where I will explore the endless possibilities of my future," said Li Jizhao. Standing by the Tianmu River, he is among the young people who have come to Hengqin to pursue their dreams.
Li works for Guangdong True Health Medical Technology Development Co., Ltd. (True Health), a Macao-founded startup developing China's first domestically built puncture surgical robot. Here in Hengqin, the company has transformed a bold idea—replacing traditional punctures with AI-guided precision—into a certified medical device now used in over 100 hospitals. For Li, being part of this journey means witnessing firsthand what happens when a young company is given the right environment to grow.
Developing China's first homegrown puncture surgery robot
In the showroom of True Health, Li showcased the company's products to a delegation from Macao.
Headquartered at the Macao-Hengqin Youth Entrepreneurship Valley, True Health was founded by Macao entrepreneur Zhang Haoren. The company focuses on artificial intelligence and life sciences, developing advanced medical equipment to meet clinical needs. Li serves as the company's director of public affairs.
He introduced China's pioneering puncture surgery robot and world's pioneering microwave ablation surgery robot. Since joining the company in 2022, he has presented the products to numerous visiting delegations.
The development of the puncture surgical robot began with a clinical problem. Zhang Haoren once saw a patient undergo more than a dozen punctures and CT scans, yet doctors were still unable to locate the lesion accurately. Traditional puncture procedures rely heavily on doctors' experience, exposing patients to repeated punctures and radiation. Lesions near blood vessels or nerves can also be difficult to treat.
In May 2022, the puncture surgical robot received the first Class III medical device registration certificate of its kind in China. After further upgrades, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) recognized it as China's first domestically developed puncture surgical robot in June 2023. The robot helps doctors plan puncture paths and accurately locate lesions, allowing them to complete the procedure in a single attempt.
Tangible fruits of cooperation zone in Hengqin
Li noted that the biggest challenge in R&D lies in multidisciplinary integration. Algorithms, image recognition, structural engineering and other technologies are integrated into one device to ultimately achieve submillimeter-level precise positioning.
Another difficulty is respiratory tracking. A patient's lung target keeps moving as they breathe. To tackle this problem, the R&D team developed a respiratory tracking system. It delivers real-time feedback of the patient's breathing curve via optical tracking, helping physicians identify safe timing for puncture.
Under policies supporting businesses in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the company and its employees benefit from the "dual 15 percent" preferential tax policy (corporate income tax, individual income tax) and research support. Hengqin has also helped connect the company with Macao universities and medical institutions, supporting joint research and the clinical application of new technologies.
Earlier in April, a 79-year-old patient from Macao was referred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University Hengqin Hospital. She had undergone lung cancer surgery twice, and the cancer had recurred this year. Chemotherapy and targeted therapy were no longer effective, and given her age, another surgery under general anesthesia was not advisable. Following consultations between doctors in Hengqin and Macao, the team decided to use True Health's puncture surgical robot for minimally invasive ablation.
Li said that after watching the entire puncture procedure, a Macao doctor remarked that the operation "would have been impossible to perform by human hands alone. The robot turned the impossible into precise results."
A hub where more dreams take root
To date, the puncture surgical robot has assisted in more than 8,000 procedures at over 100 hospitals across China, with a high success rate.
On June 30, True Health was listed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), becoming the first listed company specializing in puncture surgical robots.
The company's growth has also shaped Li's own development. Looking back on the April procedure, he explained the surgery to the patient's family in plain language and answered their questions. At that moment, he realized he had grown from an outsider into an insider in the field.
A growing number of Macao residents are visiting Li's company to learn about the clinical applications of China's first self-developed surgical robots.
Kuong Chi Fong, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, said Macao's young people are encouraged to visit Hengqin and explore opportunities to work and start businesses there.
Macao's research strengths thrive on Hengqin's industrial ground, delivering an innovative puncture surgical robot with submillimeter positioning accuracy. More young people like Li are coming to Hengqin to work, innovate and pursue their dreams, embracing the endless possibilities ahead.
Source | Nanfang News Network