Robot takes the strain out of gallstone surgery

NCT ID NCT07368335

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study compares a new robotic-assisted endoscope to the standard method for removing gallstones stuck in the common bile duct. The robot aims to protect doctors from radiation and repetitive strain injuries while keeping the procedure just as effective. About 200 adults with bile duct stones will be randomly assigned to either robotic or conventional ERCP to see if the robot is a safe and reliable option.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Robotic-assisted ERCP device
What this could lead to: If successful, this robotic system could become a safer alternative for doctors performing ERCP, reducing their radiation exposure and physical strain while maintaining stone removal success.
What could go wrong: This is a non-inferiority trial, meaning it only aims to show the robot is not worse than the standard method. It is still early-stage, and the robot may not improve patient outcomes or could introduce new technical challenges.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

choledocholithiasis gallstones

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

COMMON BILE DUCT STONE ERCP ROBOT SURGERY

Contacts and locations

Locations

Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School

Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China

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