Madurai, July 30, 2026: Building on a decade of expertise and trusted care in robotic surgery, Meenakshi Super Speciality Hospital (MSSH) has further strengthened its robotic surgical programme with the Toumai™ MT-1000 Pro Robotic Surgical System, marking the next chapter in its journey towards advanced robotic-assisted care. The next-generation platform is designed to enhance precision, safety and patient outcomes across a wide range of complex procedures, while further expanding access to advanced minimally invasive surgery for patients in southern Tamil Nadu.
The hospital will perform complex procedures across gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, urology, gynaecology, thoracic, breast, thyroid and paediatric surgery using the Toumai™ MT-1000 Pro Robotic Surgical System.
Mr. Vijay Antony, actor, music director, and philanthropist, and Mr. Prashanth Thiagarajan, actor, inaugurated the system in the presence of Dr. S. Gurushankar, Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre, and Dr. Ramesh Ardhanari, Medical Director, MSSH. The hospital’s senior medical team, including Dr. Mohan, Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Department of Medical & Surgical Gastroenterology; Dr. Jegadesh Chandra Bose, Senior Consultant, Department of Medical & Surgical Gastroenterology; Dr. Paul Vincent, Senior Consultant, Department of Urology; Dr. Vijaya Bhaskar, Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Department of Surgical Oncology; Dr. Padma, Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Department of Gynaecology; and Mr. Dileep, Director, MSSH, also attended the inauguration.
The advanced system is among the latest generation robotic surgical platforms and has been adopted by medical institutions across more than 60 countries. It has been used in over 18,000 robotic procedures worldwide across multiple surgical specialties, reflecting its growing acceptance and clinical reliability.
The platform features an immersive three-dimensional high-definition view, highly dexterous robotic instruments that mimic the movements of the human wrist with superior flexibility, and advanced imaging capabilities to assist surgeons during complex procedures.
In his comments, Dr. S. Gurushankar said, “For the past 10 years, robotic surgery has been an integral part of our commitment to delivering advanced surgical care. The addition of the Toumai™ MT-1000 Pro Robotic Surgical System marks the next chapter in this journey, further strengthening our capabilities with next-generation robotic technology. By combining advanced robotics with the expertise of our surgeons, we aim to deliver safer surgeries, faster recovery, and better clinical outcomes. With its future-ready capabilities, this platform also opens new possibilities for remote surgical collaboration and expands access to advanced care. This is another significant step towards making cutting-edge healthcare accessible to the people of South Tamil Nadu.”
Dr. Ramesh Ardhanari said, “The robotic platform can be used across multiple specialties, including gastrointestinal surgery, hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgery, urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, bariatric surgery, hernia surgery and several complex cancer procedures. It is particularly valuable for operations requiring exceptional precision in confined anatomical spaces.”
Dr. Mohan commented that the robotic surgical system offers several advantages to patients, including smaller incisions, reduced pain, minimal blood loss, lower risk of infection, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, quicker return to normal activities and improved cosmetic results with smaller scars. The enhanced three-dimensional visualization and wristed instruments also help surgeons preserve vital nerves and delicate structures during complex procedures.
Unlike conventional surgery, robotic-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive technique performed through a few small incisions. The robotic system never functions independently; every movement is fully controlled by the surgeon from a dedicated console. The technology translates the surgeon’s hand movements into highly precise actions while filtering natural hand tremors, enabling exceptional accuracy even in the most delicate and difficult-to-reach areas.
The Toumai™ MT-1000 Pro Robotic Surgical System features an immersive naked-eye 3D high-definition vision system that provides surgeons with a highly magnified view of the operative field, enabling greater precision during complex procedures. The platform combines ultra-low latency, master-slave control technology and highly dexterous robotic instruments to faithfully translate the surgeon’s hand movements into precise instrument actions. An ergonomically designed surgeon console, laser-assisted smart docking and an integrated full-HD imaging platform further enhance surgical accuracy, efficiency and surgeon comfort.
The system also incorporates advanced image processing with real-time ICG fluorescence imaging, vessel enhancement and smoke removal to improve visualisation of critical anatomical structures during surgery. It is equipped with force-sensing technology for delicate tissue handling and is designed to support a wide range of complex procedures across gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, urology, gynaecology, thoracic, breast, thyroid and paediatric surgery. The platform is also enabling future remote surgical collaboration through high-speed network connectivity.
