Robotic arm helps distribute radioactive pharmaceuticals! Beirong launches AI system to reduce medical care burden

Radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine examinations and treatments must not only accurately control the dose when dispensing them, but also have to race against time. The "AI Nuclear Powder Automatic Packaging System" independently developed by Taipei Rongzong was officially launched, integrating packaging, transportation and recycling operations. Dean Chen Weiming said that smart medical care should be implemented in clinical practice to improve medical quality and patient safety, while creating a friendlier working environment for medical colleagues.

Beirong said that this system was developed through cross-disciplinary cooperation between the Department of Nuclear Medicine and the Medical Laboratory, combining artificial intelligence image recognition, six-axis robotic arms and automated control technology, with the assistance of the National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University research team and robotic arm manufacturers. The research and development results stood out from 435 participating teams in the "2026 AI Innovation Award" competition sponsored by the National Science Council and became one of the three winning teams.

Chen Weiming pointed out that Bei Wing has been selected as the world's best hospital by Newsweek for three consecutive years and has been selected as the world's best smart hospital. The international recognition is exciting, but the real value of smart medical care is not only the introduction of advanced technology, but also the practical application of innovation in clinical practice, taking into account patient safety and the work needs of medical staff.

At the opening ceremony, Beirong Vice President Li Weiqiang picked up a lead-shielded container specially used for nuclear medicine and pointed out, "This lead tank looks inconspicuous, but it is quite heavy to hold." Nuclear medicine colleagues must repeatedly transport and operate these equipment every day. In addition to consuming manpower, they also face risks of radiation exposure and musculoskeletal load. The purpose of introducing automation is to let machines take on repetitive, heavy and risky tasks and reduce the burden on the front line.

Lin Yongyang, deputy dean of Beirong, said that the radioactive activity of nuclear medicines will continue to decay over time. In addition to precision, the preparation process must also be time-controlled. Each link relies on the experience and judgment of professionals. The introduction of smart automation technology will help improve operational efficiency and accuracy, and enhance the safety of patients and staff.

Wang Yufeng, director of Beirong Nuclear Medicine Department, explained that nuclear medicine can be divided into four major steps from preparation to clinical use: preparation, packaging, transportation and recycling. Each step must take into account accuracy, efficiency and radiation protection. At present, the system has integrated the last three operations. In the future, it will further challenge the more technically difficult nuclear medicine preparation and gradually move towards full-process automation.