TIJI Orthopedic Robot
Before coming to the states, I was commissioned by Tinavi to design their second generation orthopedic surgery robot, Tiji. Thanks to the handworks my colleague Hongtao at MADE innovation and Tinavi devoted to the project, the robot has been successfully manufactured and is currently undergoing verification of CFDA. I would like to disclose part of the design process and share one of my favorite concepts along the way.
Here is a brief background of the company from the Robohub article about status quo of Chinese medical robotics.
Beijing Tinavi (北京天智航医疗科技股份有限公司) is a company listed on China’s National Equities Exchange Quotation (NEEQ). Backed by China’s Ministry of Science, the Beijing Government and the Chinese Academy of Science, Tinavi is a manufacturer of robotic guided systems designed for orthopedic surgeries. In 2010, it was the first Chinese company to be awarded the CFDA permit to manufacture its first generation orthopedic robot. Tinavi’s orthopedic robots have been installed in more than 10 Chinese hospitals, and have completed around 2000 surgeries since 2010. Tinavi’s GD-2000 model is now selling at RMB 5.4 Mn. According to GCiS, the company is growing at a rate of 150%. Its newest medical robot, Phecda (designed for minimally invasive spinal surgeries) is still pending CFDA’s approval in 2016.(The rise of China’s medical robotics sector, Siao Tin Soh, December22, 2016)
The machine featured in the research of Robot-assisted percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar vertebral fracture (Surgeon: Prof. TIAN Wei)
Early Ideation sketches emphasized on convenient robotic arm storage and housing option exploration.
Quick concept iteration in response to engineering feedbacks. (Photoshopped over CAD model)
One of the interim concept renderings.
Photo of the products taken by the manufacturer.
