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Domestic Medical Devices Urgently Need to Go Global—An Interview with Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chen Yazhu

Release time：2020-08-20

　　Chen Yazhu, a professor and director of the Institute of Biomedical Instruments at the School of Life Sciences of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, as well as an expert in high-voltage and biomedical engineering, has primarily focused on research and innovation in the field of non-invasive technologies. She has pioneered the integration of multidisciplinary knowledge and engineering principles into the research and development of cutting-edge medical devices, achieving a series of significant breakthroughs that have been widely adopted and applied. Over the years, she has consistently advocated that technological innovation is a fundamental human capability—specifically, the ability to effectively translate new knowledge and advanced processes into market applications, thereby creating new business opportunities. She emphasizes that domestically produced medical devices should swiftly secure a prominent position in the market.

　　At the 64th Medical Equipment Expo recently held in Shenyang, Chen Yazhu, now in her seventies, once again shared her heartfelt conviction with reporters: New domestically produced medical devices and innovative manufacturing processes must be developed as soon as possible!

　　Numerous innovative, high-tech devices

　　As one of the principal researchers on extracorporeal lithotripters for kidney stones, Chen Yazhu conducted in-depth studies on the mechanical effects generated by high-intensity pulsed discharges in liquids, overcoming a series of technical challenges and achieving outstanding clinical outcomes that have delivered significant social and economic benefits, for which she was awarded the First Prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award. The radiofrequency device for benign prostatic hyperplasia that she led the development of has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy comparable to that of similar products, while also saving more than US$8 million in foreign exchange. Chen Yazhu noted that, during her field investigations, she learned that the recently developed and manufactured “multi-functional whole-body red-light therapy device” and “photodynamic therapy device” are both world-first innovations. She said: “It is truly inspiring to see our own countrymen innovating, researching, and producing cutting-edge medical devices. This not only yields tremendous social and economic benefits, but also demonstrates that our foundational disciplines and overall capabilities in the medical field are now on par with international standards. Domesticating medical-device production can significantly reduce costs, as evidenced by several high-tech enterprises. For example, Minimally Invasive Devices (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., after a decade of innovation, has developed cardiovascular stent products. In the past, hospitals almost exclusively used products from Johnson & Johnson in the United States, with each stent costing more than RMB 30,000; some procedures required as many as three stents, placing an unbearable financial burden on patients. Today, however, minimally invasive stents have reduced costs by more than half, prompting even foreign manufacturers to slash their prices to just over RMB 10,000 per stent.”

　　Academician Chen Yazhu believes that the integration of industry, academia, and research in the medical-device sector remains inadequate. While we are investing significant effort in technological innovation, we still lack leading enterprises with a strategic vision; once this window of opportunity closes, all our progress will be for naught.

　　She went on to say that government support is essential for advancing the industry, and that what is still lacking are specific industrial policies. Technological breakthroughs in medical devices typically require a transformation period of at least three to five years; without an investment of RMB 10–20 million, no meaningful results can be achieved. Therefore, relevant authorities need to provide policy-driven funding and other forms of support to help promising enterprises see their projects through to completion.

The Medical Expo held in Shenyang represents an excellent opportunity for government support. With the theme “Exploring the Way—Systematic Solutions,” the event features four major specialized sub-areas: medical imaging, information technology, in vitro diagnostics, and software, spanning a total exhibition space of 110,000 square meters and comprising more than 5,200 booths. It has attracted over 2,100 companies from more than 20 regions, showcasing products across 40 major categories and encompassing over 10,000 individual items that cover the entire medical-device industry value chain. Notably, more than 600 new products were launched at the expo, highlighting the rapid pace of R&D in the sector, while some 120,000 visitors from over 100 regions attended. With innovation, leading enterprises that are both bold and visionary, and robust policy support from the government, the day when domestically produced medical devices dominate the market is not far off.

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