Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHENGDU, June 24 (Xinhua) — How to ensure access to advanced medical services in remote and underdeveloped areas? Can customized medical solutions meet unique needs? With such questions in mind, China is accelerating technological development, creating a new healthcare scheme that benefits the world.
Jotham Kimondo, a 35-year-old doctoral student from Tanzania, studies at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
Under the guidance of Professor Wu Zhe of Chengdu Tianfu Jincheng Advanced Medical Equipment Research Institute, J. Kimondo is engaged in the development of ultrasonic medical devices.
As a teacher in Tanzania, J. Kimondo is keen to bring ultrasound equipment design and manufacturing to China to help his country.
“My research involves innovative design of ultrasound medical devices to monitor pathological changes in human tissues – an important indicator of disease. Women in Tanzania still rely on traditional methods, such as palpation, to examine their breasts. This approach is highly dependent on the individual experience of doctors and is not always accurate. Some women refuse examinations altogether,” explained J. Kimondo.
He added that many diseases still affect Tanzanians: “I want to improve healthcare in Tanzania, to help people stay healthy. Joint development of innovative ultrasound equipment will be very useful for early screening of breast diseases and other diseases, especially when these devices become more accessible and cheaper for promotion in African countries.”
There are more than 53 advanced medical companies registered in the Tianfu Jincheng Future Medicine Laboratory City, which are exploring cutting-edge innovation and integrative medicine.
Recently, at the Remote Ultrasound Center of Tianfu Jincheng Institute, a doctor held an online consultation with a colleague from the Second People’s Hospital of Chengdu East New Area, giving instructions on how to use a portable ultrasound device on a patient’s carotid artery.
Ultrasound data was displayed in real time on a shared screen, allowing doctors to directly discuss pathologies and make professional diagnoses.
“Traditional expensive ultrasound machines cost millions. In western China, rural residents often have to travel to county hospitals for checkups,” Wu Zhe explained.
“Our goal is to ensure widespread use of portable ultrasound devices in rural areas for early diagnosis and monitoring of chronic diseases. Our portable equipment is much cheaper and easier to use in grassroots health care facilities,” he added.
The portable, smartphone-sized device has already been used in more than 10 medical institutions in eastern Chengdu, providing free carotid artery and thyroid examinations to more than 2,000 residents.
With China’s growing capabilities in industrial design, manufacturing and medical research, innovation in medical equipment development is rapidly advancing. Growing recognition of Chinese medical devices in overseas markets is increasing international orders, spurring Chinese companies to enter the global market.
At the Future Medicine Laboratory City, employees of Chengdu Seamaty Technology Co., Ltd. pack reagents for biochemical testing. This batch is being prepared for shipment from Chengdu to destinations around the world.
This “small giant” company, which develops diagnostic equipment for rapid analysis, already supplies products to more than 150 countries and regions around the world.
At its quality control center, hundreds of fully automated biochemistry analyzers undergo pre-shipment inspection.
“This batch of equipment will be shipped to Europe. Last year, the company’s sales were 320 million yuan (about $44.6 million), and in the first five months of this year, our international business grew 59 percent year on year,” said Deputy General Manager Wang Bin, noting that the increase in overseas orders reflects the growing recognition of Chinese medical devices in global markets.
Innovative technologies such as 3D printing, organs-on-a-chip, nanorobots and neural interfaces are advancing medical device research and application in China, shaping the medical landscape of the future.
At Chengdu Tianqi Additive Intelligent Manufacturing, 3D printing is used to create personalized medical solutions. Using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and layer-by-layer printing, virtual designs are transformed into the intended physical products.
In a modern workshop, dozens of industrial printers work in an orderly manner, and a laser engraver with an accuracy of 0.01 mm creates patterns in titanium powder.
Customized titanium plates for maxillofacial surgery are printed in a matter of hours. This seemingly ordinary industrial scene reflects China’s significant progress in high-precision, intelligent manufacturing of medical devices.
Compared to manual plate bending in the past, 3D printing provides more accurate, convenient and safer production of customized products.
“We are currently working on a custom order for a patient in Singapore. Engineers upload the patient’s data into the system, and AI algorithms help designers create personalized models for facial reconstruction, which are then printed entirely on metal 3D printers,” said Gao Bancui, marketing director at Chengdu Tianqi Additive Intelligent Manufacturing.
He added that in the future, the company will focus on serving countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia to meet the individual medical needs of more countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. -0-