In the midst of the swift advancement of automation in surgical procedures, Medicaroid Corporation has unveiled the inaugural Japanese-made surgical robot, named "Hinotori." This innovative creation is anticipated to make significant inroads into a market that has predominantly been controlled by foreign companies thus far.
In August 2020, the new surgical robot received approval for manufacturing and sales in Japan. Later, in December 2022, additional robotic surgical procedures were approved for insurance coverage. On January 10, 2023, Hinotori, the surgical robot, was honored with the Prime Minister's Prize from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
Equipped with four robotic arms, Hinotori replaces the surgeon and is operated remotely. The surgeon performs the procedure while referring to detailed 3D stereoscopic images for guidance.
Medicaroid, a joint venture between Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sysmex Corporation, initiated the development of Hinotori in 2015. Kawasaki, known for developing Japan's first industrial robot, and Sysmex, a leader in medical testing and diagnostic technology, have combined their technological expertise for Hinotori's advancement.
By June 2022, robotic surgery had expanded its presence in various medical departments, including urology, gastrointestinal surgery, and gynecology. A total of 28 Japanese medical facilities, including university hospitals, had incorporated surgical robots. Over the following six months until December 15, 2022, Hinotori had been used in 840 surgeries.
From 1999 to 2022, the da Vinci Surgical System, developed by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in the United States, held a near monopoly in the surgical robot market. However, after the expiration of their patent in 2019, several companies entered the market.
Hinotori, which is smaller and more affordable, with prices starting at approximately ￥ 200 million JPY ($1.56 million USD), is gaining significant traction. Medicaroid estimated in June 2022 that it would capture around 20% of the domestic market share within two years of its sales launch.
Surgery support robot "da Vinci" is being used by a doctor who operates the arm while looking at the monitor. At Wakayama Medical University on October 13, 2012. (© Sankei Shimbun)
In the midst of the swift advancement of automation in surgical procedures, Medicaroid Corporation has unveiled the inaugural Japanese-made surgical robot, named "Hinotori." This innovative creation
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