[Explanation] Recently, the first extracorporeal membrane oxygenation equipment (ECMO) in China jointly developed by the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, the National Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Sichuan University, and the School of Mechanical Engineering of Xi’an Jiaotong University, succeeded Used in clinical practice.
[Concurrent] Yuan Zuyi, Dean of Cardiovascular Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
Entering the clinic means that we are now officially able to announce the successful development of this system. From the initial stage, we have used several patients, that is, we have actually used three critically ill patients, which is very, very severely ill. From these three patients, from clinical application to patients, all three patients have recovered and discharged from the hospital. We are very confident that our system is fully mature.
[Explanation] It is understood that the R&D team has fully analyzed and compared the advantages and disadvantages of similar foreign products and problems in clinical use, and designed a domestic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation device for China’s domestic clinical needs. Optimization and innovation.
[Concurrent] Yuan Zuyi, Dean of Cardiovascular Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
This is a domestic ECMO system that is the first in our country, or we hope to replace imported products. Of course, we are here, and there are some new technologies in it, for example, our mechanical part has magnetic navigation. , Magnetron technology, etc., our new coating technology membrane lung's new coating technology, etc. This is based on our previous innovations and improvements.
[Explanation] When talking about the research and development process, Yuan Zuyi said that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation equipment has long relied on imports, and its core technology and materials, as key areas, have been "stuck".
And China’s domestic research and investment in this area have been for more than ten years. With the formation of China’s domestic R&D environment in recent years, hospitals have finally broken through the foreign technology monopoly through the form of "integration of medical and industrial".
[Concurrent] Yuan Zuyi, Dean of Cardiovascular Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
The ECMO system is a systematic project. There are many technologies in it. For example, there are many patents in it. We have to overcome them one by one. It may not be a matter of one person or two people, nor a month or two months. It took a year or two, so the entire research and development took a long time. There were also a lot of people involved and encountered a lot of problems. This is our R&D team, this and our R&D staff. One by one, the technologies that break through some bottlenecks.
[Explanation] Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation equipment is a life-saving "weapon" for patients with cardiopulmonary failure. Because the core key technology has been monopolized by foreign countries for a long time, the equipment and consumables are expensive, which leads to the cost of "starting up" as high as more than 100,000 yuan. The "heavy burden" of patients and families, and the "coming out" of domestically-made equipment is expected to further adjust its market prices.
[Concurrent] Yuan Zuyi, Dean of Cardiovascular Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
This (imported ECMO) equipment is expensive. In addition to the equipment, its consumables are also expensive. About one patient we use now, for example, about one patient is about hundreds of thousands. Of course, the length of time it takes, the subsequent maintenance of these costs, etc. Wait, the personal cost is not exactly the same, but how can it cost hundreds of thousands. In the future, we have not yet become a market. In fact, my ideal, my ideal, I hope that the patient can be resolved within 30,000 to 50,000. I hope that compared with the cost of the last common people of our system, I hope it will be less than one-fifth of the price.
[Explanation] Yuan Zuyi said that he believes that the successful research and development of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation equipment is just a case. At present, there are still many high-end medical instruments that are "stuck-necked" in China. I believe these devices will be "conquered" sooner or later. The market benefits patients.
[Concurrent] Yuan Zuyi, Dean of Cardiovascular Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
In the next step, we hope to transform such a successfully developed product into the market. We hope to turn it into a product. We hope to bring such a useful and good thing to thousands of hospitals, which can bring more of the country. More critically ill patients will benefit, and more hospitals will have such life-saving "artifacts". Of course, we are not only in the country (sales). We hope that this is such a product that can go to the market. ,head to the World.
Reporter Mei Yilong reports from Xi'an
Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]