THE Shenzhen People's Hospital's resident robot surgeon*, which has operated on more than 80 patients since joining the hospital staff in 2002, is awaiting more patients.

Zeus, the first and only robot surgeon on the mainland, became a minor celebrity in April, 2002, after performing a gall bladder* operation.

Since then the robot surgeon has excelled* in liver and gall* surgeries and urinary* surgeries in the hospital. "About two percent of such surgeries were made by Zeus, which is pretty good for a burgeoning* medical technology," said Dr. Yu Xiaofang, director of the liver and gall department of the hospital.

However, the hospital cannot find a way to promote the cutting-edge technology, as the robot is expensive. Priced at US$1 million, with annual maintenance costing US$100,000, the hospital said it loses 5,000 yuan (US$400) in costs for each surgery.

Yu said he often suggests suitable patients undergo robot surgery. Most patients show great interest in it. "Very few people look at it apprehensively*," he said.

So far the surgeries carried out by Zeus have been all successful according to the hospital.

Zhang Shuiping, the son of 50-year-old Yang Zhonghua, who underwent gall bladder removal* two years ago, said they believed in the technology and were at ease with surgery done by a robot.

(Richard Han) [WASN'T THIS WRITTEN BY SALLY LAST SUMMER?]

1. surgeon 外科医生

2. gall bladder 胆囊

3. excel 胜过;优于

4. urinary 泌尿系统的

5. burgeon 发芽;起步

6. apprehensively 担心地

7. removal 去除