Roen Surgical (CEO Kwon Dong-soo), a surgical robotics platform company, announced on the 4th that it will supply the world’s first AI-based kidney stone surgery robot, Zamenix, to Goldman Urology Clinic, the largest urology network in Korea.
Goldman Urology Clinic has focused exclusively on the treatment of urologic diseases since 2002 and is known for having one of the largest clinical and treatment records among urology clinics in Korea. Across five nationwide branches, a total of 12 board-certified urologists provide care. Through more than one million cumulative treatments for urologic diseases and over 10,000 kidney stone–related cases, the clinic has built clinical expertise comparable to that of a university hospital, enabling safe and effective performance of complex procedures.
Notably, the introduction of Zamenix marks the first installation of the system in a primary medical institution. Under the agreement, Zamenix has been initially introduced at the Gangnam and Jamsil branches of Goldman Urology Clinic. The hospital plans to use the system to enhance the precision of complex kidney stone procedures, particularly retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), thereby improving both surgical accuracy and patient safety during and after the operation.
Following this agreement, the two organizations also plan to expand cooperation in education and clinical research related to Zamenix-based kidney stone surgery.
With this contract, Roen Surgical will supply Zamenix to a total of nine hospitals in Korea and plans to expand the number to 20 hospitals within this year.
Zamenix is an advanced surgical robot designed to support physicians throughout the entire surgical process with high precision. The system consists of a flexible endoscopic robot and a control console used for remote operation. The flexible endoscope, measuring approximately 2.8 mm in diameter, can pass through the urethra and ureter without any incision, allowing repeated removal of kidney stones within the kidney. During the procedure, a single surgeon operates the robot remotely from the control console to precisely fragment and remove the stones.
In particular, Zamenix incorporates several AI-based functions that improve stone fragmentation and removal rates compared with conventional surgical methods. Its respiratory compensation function automatically corrects for stone movement caused by the patient’s breathing, increasing the accuracy of laser targeting and helping reduce surgical time while improving safety.
The system also includes technology that assists in identifying stone size, helping reduce the risk of ureteral injury. In addition, a “path regeneration” function allows the endoscope to remember and automatically restore previously used entry paths, making repeated stone removal procedures more efficient.
A representative of Goldman Urology Clinic stated that the institution has consistently taken the lead in adopting cutting-edge equipment and advanced treatment methods, and that it is now introducing the world’s first AI-based kidney stone surgical robot among primary care institutions in Korea. The clinic expects that the Zamenix system, which is optimized for complex procedures, will help provide patients with more effective treatment while reducing concerns about pain.
Meanwhile, Zamenix was designated as the 17th Innovative Medical Device by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in December 2021 and was selected for an expedited review process. It received manufacturing approval from the ministry in October 2022. In August 2023, it was also recognized as an Innovative Medical Technology by the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), allowing it to be used as a non-covered or selectively covered medical service for three years starting in 2024. Clinical studies for new medical technology registration are currently underway at five institutions, involving a total of 232 patients.