The future has arrived! Imagine if a robot could take your pulse the next time you visited a TCM clinic. Patients at a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, were treated to that very experience, starting from July 22.

The brainchild of Guo Fusheng who possesses a doctorate in Biomedical Engineering) and his research group, the robot is the product of years of dedication and experimentation.

Created with input from big data technology, AI and the diagnostic experience of doctors, the robot can identify 540 million different types of pulses –– far more than the basic 28 types of regular TCM.

Each pulse reading takes approximately 18 minutes per patient while the robot will collate relevant scientific reports to be shared with doctors at the same time. Among the many advantages of this time saving breakthrough is the fact that patients’ medical expenses will be reduced.