Borns and the Fudan University's affiliated Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Hospital have announced a significant breakthrough in the Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) system. This innovative technology marks a new era in minimally invasive treatments for oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal lesions, significantly advancing the field of head and neck surgery and related disciplines.

Traditional surgical methods for treating head and neck tumors in challenging areas such as the oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx are notoriously difficult due to complex anatomy, limited visibility, and manipulation challenges. The TORS system employs highly flexible robotic arms and precise surgical instruments, allowing surgeons to navigate through the intricate physiological curves of the pharynx and larynx, performing precise operations in extremely narrow spaces.

The New Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) System

A team led by Professor Lei Tao from Fudan University ENT Hospital, in collaboration with Borns team, has successfully developed the new Borns Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) system. This advanced system employs ultra-fine flexible surgical instruments capable of precise operations in narrow spaces like the pharynx, marking a significant breakthrough in innovative treatment methods.

The anatomical structure of pharynx is deeply located, convoluted, and varies significantly among individuals. The Borns TORS system, equipped with various flexible surgical instruments, can perform surgeries in both the oropharynx and laryngopharynx, overcoming the limitations of space and precision associated with traditional minimally invasive surgery. This advancement makes robotic surgery in head and neck procedures possible, significantly enhancing surgical outcomes. 

The Unify Surgical Robotic System with TORS

This state-of-the-art system integrates multi-port, single-port, and Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) through a uniform control platform, allowing surgeons to utilize the unify Borns robotic system across various surgical approaches enhances flexibility and controllability. Key features of the Unify Surgical Robotic System include:

1.    Unified Control Platform

This platform supports multi-port, single-port, and NOTES procedures, providing surgeons with the versatility to switch seamlessly between different surgical techniques. This integration allows for a more flexible and controllable surgical experience, tailored to the specific needs of each procedure.

2.    Ultra-Fine Flexible Instruments

These instruments can navigate complex physiological curves to access lesions that traditional instruments cannot reach. This capability is revolutionizing surgery in complex and delicate areas such as the oropharynx and laryngopharynx, offering new possibilities for minimally invasive procedures in these regions.

3.    Wide-spectrum Imaging Systems

The advanced imaging capabilities enable surgeons to use various wide-spectrum soft endoscopic systems with precise localization. The fast switching and coordinated control of flexible endoscopes and precision instruments facilitate complex surgical operations, ensuring high accuracy and efficiency.

The Unify Surgical Robotic System with TORS is poised to transform the landscape of minimally invasive surgery, providing surgeons with unprecedented control and flexibility while improving patient outcomes in challenging surgical areas. 

▲ Professor Lei Tao performing cadaver experiment using Borns TORS system. 

The Borns TORS system has successfully completed various operations in its first cadaver study at the Fudan University Robotic Clinical Application Anatomical Training Center. This study has fully validated the system's effectiveness in reducing the risk of maxillofacial, oropharyngeal, and laryngopharyngeal soft tissue trauma associated with traditional trans-oral surgery, while implementing several groundbreaking surgical technologies.

Key Areas of Study:

•    Oropharynx: tonsils, soft palate, uvula, and base of the tongue.

•    Laryngopharynx: epiglottis, esophageal entrance, posterior wall of the hypopharynx, retro-cricoid, medial and lateral walls of the piriform sinus, false vocal cords, and vocal cords.

Future of Robotic Surgery

This advancement of the Borns TORS system transform surgical practices, ensuring enhanced precision and safety in complex surgical procedures. The successful application of the Borns TORS system, as the new chapter of Borns Unify Robotic System, also opens a new chapter for head and neck surgery, providing innovative treatment methods and new directions for endoscopic esophageal, bronchoscopy, and nasopharyngeal surgeries. The future Borns Unified Robotic System is design to offer patients safer, more effective, and personalized treatment options, marking the future direction of specialized, refined, and intelligent robotic surgery.