Robotic PCI System Debuts at TCT2025 with Strong Clinical Data and Global Ambition

At this year’s Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT2025) symposium in San Francisco, a Chinese-developed robotic system for coronary interventions made a notable debut. Presented by Dr. Wang Rui on behalf of Academician Ge Junbo’s team from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, the PANVIS STAR Vascular Interventional Surgery Control System was showcased for the first time with data from a multicenter randomized controlled trial—offering a compelling look at the future of robot-assisted PCI.

The clinical results, unveiled during a session on robotics and AI-enhanced interventions, reflect growing momentum in the shift toward precision medicine and remote procedural capabilities in interventional cardiology. The PANVIS STAR system, developed by Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Biomedical Robot Co., Ltd., introduces a new standard of robotic design that not only prioritizes technical sophistication but also focuses on replicating the intuitive control and habits of experienced interventionalists.

A major motivation behind developing robot-assisted PCI systems is physician safety. Traditional PCI procedures expose operators to extended radiation and require hours spent in lead aprons, raising risks for orthopedic and ocular conditions. PANVIS STAR addresses these concerns with a user-centered design, featuring a catheter control system that mimics the feel and motion of manual manipulation, reducing the learning curve while enhancing precision. It also supports dual guidewire and microcatheter operations, accommodates a full procedural pathway post-sheath insertion, and includes built-in 5G remote operation capabilities—enabling procedures over vast distances.

The CAPTAIN-C trial, led by Academician Ge, enrolled patients with obstructive coronary artery disease requiring PCI. Participants were randomly assigned to robotic or manual intervention. Outcomes between the two groups—71 in the robotic arm and 73 in the manual group—were comparable across clinical and angiographic variables. Notably, the robotic system achieved a 100% technical success rate, with no device malfunctions or conversions to manual intervention.

The clinical success rate in the robotic group was 97.18%, closely mirroring manual performance, while offering a striking occupational benefit: a 97.2% reduction in radiation exposure for the primary operator. Patient exposure and contrast use were similar between groups, reinforcing the system’s clinical viability without added burden.

One of the most significant demonstrations of PANVIS STAR’s potential came in the form of a remote PCI performed across a 5,200-kilometer distance—from Shanghai to Xinjiang—using 5G connectivity. This collaborative procedure, involving physicians at Zhongshan Hospital and Kashi Second People’s Hospital, signaled a major step toward scalable, cross-regional interventional care.

Beyond coronary interventions, the platform’s pan-vascular compatibility could extend its use to neurovascular and peripheral applications. As intelligent navigation and AI integration continue to advance, future robotic systems may go beyond replicating manual skills to offer semi-autonomous planning and guidance, pushing the boundaries of what remote, precision interventions can achieve.

The successful trial of PANVIS STAR not only validates China’s growing capabilities in medical robotics but also marks an important milestone in the global evolution of interventional cardiology. As Dr. Ge’s team emphasized, the mission is larger than technology alone: it’s about creating a safer, more efficient operating environment and ensuring that more patients—regardless of geography—can benefit from high-quality care enabled by intelligent systems.