Roen Surgical's AI surgery robot tackles growing kidney stone cases in Ansan

Roen Surgical said Thursday it has begun supplying its AI-driven kidney stone surgery robot, Zamenix, to Korea University Ansan Hospital -- the first installation in Gyeonggi Province.

Zamenix is an advanced surgical robot designed to provide highly precise assistance throughout the surgical process. Its ultra-thin flexible endoscope passes through the urethra and ureter without incisions, enabling repeated removal of stones within the kidney.

Korea University Ansan Hospital’s Urology Department, which serves the southwestern Gyeonggi region, is recognized for its extensive experience in urinary stone treatment and complex surgeries. It attracts many patients with recurrent stones, anatomical variations, previous surgical history, and stones larger than 2cm.

Over the past five years, urinary stone cases in Ansan have steadily risen, driven by an aging society and a growing foreign population. Government data showed about 102,000 foreign workers lived in Ansan as of 2024.

The company noted that most kidney stone patients are middle-aged men in their 40s to 60s, for whom kidney stones directly affect work and daily life. Given these patient needs and the regional context, Korea University Ansan Hospital actively adopted the Zamenix system.

Professor Tae Bum-sik of Korea University Ansan Hospital said, “We expect the introduction of Zamenix to overcome the limitations of existing surgical methods and significantly enhance patient treatment outcomes by reducing complications, lowering reoperation rates, and improving surgical accuracy and safety.”

With this latest installation, the number of Korean hospitals using Zamenix has risen to 10.

According to Roen Surgical, Zamenix improves stone removal rates through a range of AI-powered functions. Its respiratory compensation function automatically adjusts to stone movement caused by breathing, enhancing laser accuracy and shortening surgery time. It also features AI-assisted stone size measurement to reduce the risk of ureteral damage. The pathway recall function enables the endoscope to remember and restore its previous entry route, simplifying repetitive stone removal and minimizing body damage.

Zamenix was designated the 17th Innovative Medical Device by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in December 2021, granting it expedited review. In August 2023, it was also selected as an Innovative Medical Technology by the National Evidence-based Healthcare Technology Assessment Agency (NECA), making it eligible for non-reimbursed or selective insurance coverage for three years starting in 2024.

Clinical studies for new medical technology registration are underway at five institutions, involving 232 patients in the second half of this year.