Puncture Robotic presented its HAIRO robotic hair transplant system at the 14th World Congress for Hair Research in Seoul, outlining plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence and automation in hair restoration procedures. HAIRO is certified in China as a National Medical Products Administration Class III medical device. The system combines artificial intelligence, computer vision and robotic automation for hair assessment, surgical planning, follicular extraction and postoperative management.
The company’s technology includes a hair-detection device that measures and classifies hair loss. A related AI application produces visual simulations intended to show patients potential outcomes from a transplant procedure. During surgery, the HAIRO system provides physicians with preoperative planning tools and adjusts operating parameters using information collected during follicular extraction. Its machine-learning software analyzes differences in follicular structure and scalp conditions.
The system uses 20-megapixel binocular cameras and image-processing software. Puncture Robotic said the technology can achieve positioning accuracy of up to 0.1 millimeters beneath the scalp surface, with the aim of limiting damage to surrounding tissue during follicular-unit extraction. HAIRO also incorporates a proprietary algorithm designed to identify and prioritize follicular units containing multiple hairs while skipping some single-hair units. The company reported that the system can achieve a multi-hair follicular-unit extraction rate of up to 95% under specified conditions.
Prioritizing multi-hair units could allow physicians to increase the visual density of transplanted hair while using fewer grafts from the donor area. The system can process up to 2,400 follicles per hour and supports extraction needles measuring between 0.7 millimeters and 1 millimeter, according to the company. Dr. Guanzhou Zhu, founder of DCDC Hair Transplant Hospital in Taiwan, said the system’s speed, stability and compatibility with fine extraction needles indicated that it could assist experienced surgeons in clinical procedures.
Puncture Robotic positions HAIRO as a tool for supporting physicians during repetitive and precision-dependent stages of surgery rather than replacing them. Surgeons remain responsible for treatment planning, hairline design and patient care. The company said the system maintains a follicular-unit damage rate below 7.5% under specified operating conditions. Its fine-needle extraction system is intended to limit tissue disruption and bleeding, although the company did not provide independent clinical data supporting postoperative recovery outcomes.
Puncture Robotic is also developing a version of HAIRO capable of extracting long hair without requiring patients to shave the entire donor area. The company said the system is intended for patients seeking less visible evidence of treatment during recovery. The business recently completed a multimillion-dollar Series B financing round led by an unnamed artificial intelligence technology company. It plans to use the funding for product development, international expansion and regulatory work related to potential clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration and certification under European Union medical-device requirements.
