On March 30, 2022, Professor Li Weimin and Professor Liu Dan along with their teams successfully completed the first domestic robot-assisted bronchoscopic lung nodule biopsy in China. This is the first in-man (FIM) clinical trial of lung biopsy performed by a domestic bronchoscopic surgical robot, and also an important step forward for the bronchoscopic robot in the field of lung disease diagnosis. The bronchoscopic surgery robot involved in the operation, also known as the robotic arm-controlled bronchoscopic navigation system, is jointly developed by West China Hospital of Sichuan University (hereinafter referred to as "WCH"), Shanghai Chest Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (hereinafter referred to as "Shanghai Chest Hospital") and Shanghai Minimally Invasive Medical Robots (Group) Co., Ltd.(hereafter referred to as Minimally Invasive Robots), which fills the gap in relevant fields in China.

Professor Li Weimin commented after the surgery, "The diagnosis rate of conventional bronchoscopy for peripheral type lung cancer has been a major challenge in this sector. The Minimally Invasive ® Bronchoscopic Surgical Robot is able to approach deeper lung tissues and perform accurate lung nodule biopsies, making it possible for early stage lung cancer diagnosis. As a first-class national base for medical scientific research and technological innovation in China, WCH has been committed to promoting the innovation of domestic medical technology through combination of medical science and engineering. Precise early screening and treatment of lung cancer can greatly prolong the survival period and improve the life quality of patients. We hope to achieve early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, and increase the survival rate for the sake of numerous lung cancer patients with the aid of Minimally Invasive Robots."