Livesmed's Artisential Used in World's First Humanoid Robot Surgery

by Lee Sungmin

Published 13 Jul.2026 08:16(KST)

UCSD Team Performs Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Pigs
Tissue Dissection and Removal Achieved with Multi-Joint Surgical Instrument

Livesmed's multi-joint surgical instrument, "Artisential," was used for the first time ever in the world in animal surgery performed by a humanoid robot.

Livesmed announced on July 13, 2026, that a research team from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) published a paper in the international academic journal Nature, in which they remotely controlled a general-purpose humanoid robot to perform two laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures on live pigs.

UC. Livesmed

The humanoid robot was equipped with Livesmed's Artisential. Artisential is a multi-joint device whose end moves up, down, left, and right, similar to the movement of a human wrist. Using this instrument, the robot performed surgical tasks such as dissecting tissue and removing the gallbladder.

Livesmed provided Artisential to the research team and supported its use during the animal experiment process. The company explained that through this research, it confirmed the potential for its multi-joint technology to be applied not only to dedicated surgical robots but also to general-purpose humanoid robots.

However, surgeries using humanoid robots are still at the preclinical research stage. The research team analyzed that, in order to apply the technology in real medical settings, issues such as establishing a complete sterilization system, repositioning the robot during surgery, and solving communication delays that occur during remote control must be addressed.

Livesmed is also developing a next-generation surgical robot, "Stark," which incorporates multi-joint technology. In May 2026, the company unveiled the product and conducted a surgical demonstration for both domestic and international surgeons in Seoul. In July 2025, the company successfully completed a remote surgery demonstration over a distance of approximately 3,200 kilometers between Santa Barbara and Chicago in the United States.