Editorial correction — September 9, 2026: We removed unsupported device prices, blanket approval claims, patient-outcome comparisons and payback promises. Earlier text incorrectly described Toumai's European CE pathway as pending. Medical procurement must be checked for the exact device version, intended use and destination market.
Match the robot to the clinical workflow
A surgical navigation system, laparoscopic platform, rehabilitation exoskeleton and pharmacy installation solve different problems. They are not interchangeable alternatives simply because they are listed as medical robots. Start with the clinical department's intended use and have its clinical, engineering and procurement teams agree on the acceptance criteria.
| Application | Example to research | Questions for the supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic navigation | TINAVI TiRobot | Which model, imaging interfaces and procedures are covered by its current device record? |
| Laparoscopic surgery | MicroPort Toumai | Which instruments, specialties, software version and local support are included? |
| Assisted gait training | Fourier ExoMotus M4 | Which patient groups, supervision requirements and contraindications appear in the instructions? |
| Neurosurgical navigation | Remebot | Which registration method, imaging workflow and intended procedures apply to the offered system? |
| Pharmacy preparation | Siasun pharmacy automation | Is the quotation for storage, dispensing or sterile compounding, and how is each process validated? |
These catalogue entries are starting points for enquiries, not endorsements of clinical suitability. A supplier must identify its exact product in the quotation; brand-wide certification statements are insufficient.
Toumai: correcting the dated regulatory claim
MicroPort's June 4, 2024 announcement states that its Toumai laparoscopic surgical robot received CE certification on May 7, 2024, for applications described in that announcement. Our previous statement that the CE pathway was still pending was incorrect.
That historical announcement does not establish the current status of every Toumai configuration, another MicroPort device or a different destination country. Request the current certificate, declaration of conformity, instructions for use and the exact manufacturer's legal name. Check the offered model and intended use against those documents.
For the United States, start with the FDA's medical-device databases. A company registration, establishment listing, research project or pending application is not by itself evidence that a device is authorized for your intended clinical use. Ask your institution's regulatory team to identify the applicable record and route.
For Europe, use the European Commission's medical-devices information and the device's conformity documentation. For China, consult the NMPA and request the applicable registration record. We do not infer one market's authorization from another market's certificate.
Evaluate clinical evidence separately from engineering specifications
Positioning accuracy, instrument articulation and repetition counts describe equipment or a test protocol. They do not independently demonstrate faster recovery, fewer complications or equivalent patient outcomes. Ask for publications that name the offered device and match your intended procedure and patient population.
A clinical review should record the comparator, study design, sample size, follow-up period, adverse events and author conflicts. Distinguish a laboratory positioning test from a clinical outcome study. Ask whether results depend on operator experience or on a specific accessory. The hospital's clinical team must decide whether the evidence supports the intended use.
For rehabilitation, confirm patient selection, supervision, fitting and emergency-release procedures. Do not build a financial case on an assumed recovery advantage or on one therapist supervising more patients unless the proposed workflow is supported by clinical and operational evidence.
Build a complete quotation
There is no verified current public price in this guide for the listed medical systems. We withdrew the earlier ranges because the underlying dated quotations and included configurations were not available for inspection. Request comparable written quotations instead of treating an online estimate as an offer.
| Cost line | Specify in the request |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Model, software, console, carts, imaging and required accessories |
| Consumables | Unit prices, use limits, minimum orders and replacement terms |
| Installation | Room survey, building work, power, networking and validation responsibilities |
| Training | Staff roles, assessment, proctoring and additional training charges |
| Support | Local service provider, response time, spare parts and downtime provisions |
| Software and data | Licence term, updates, integration, hosting and patient-data responsibilities |
| End of contract | Renewal pricing, data export, decommissioning and disposal |
Keep purchase costs and annual costs separate. Over a chosen evaluation period, add equipment, implementation, service, consumables and other operating costs once each. If an annual service bundle already includes consumables, do not count those items again. Compare like-for-like procedure volumes and service coverage; this guide does not support a blanket percentage saving by country of manufacture.
Acceptance before clinical deployment
Agree on installation qualification, the institution's validation process, staff competency requirements and who signs acceptance. Pharmacy automation needs process-specific checks for drug identification, preparation, contamination control, exceptions and traceability. A barcode reader or enclosure alone does not prove an error rate or occupational-exposure reduction.
For every system, document how a team stops work, recovers from a failure and maintains the service if the robot is unavailable. Define what supplier evidence is required before payment milestones. A demonstration video, directory listing or requested quotation is not an approval to use a device on patients.
Continue with the medical robot directory, the medical procurement cost guide or send a sourcing enquiry. Our sourcing team reviews enquiries before possible supplier matching; a response or successful procurement is not guaranteed.
