Summary of Key Points
The first prize of the 2025 Shanghai Technology Invention Award was awarded to the team led by Dr. Liu Jianmin from Changhai Hospital. Their innovation, "Blood Flow-Directed Treatment for Cerebral Aneurysms," which took 23 years to develop, has revolutionized the traditional approach of simply "plugging holes" in blood vessels. This breakthrough has significantly increased the cure rate for cerebral aneurysms from 24.5% to 75.3% within six months and reduced the recurrence rate from 60% to 2.8%. The technology has also overcome the communication barriers between doctors and engineers by creating a fully domesticated solution, from materials to equipment. The product is now sold in 34 countries around the world, having saved 76,000 lives, with plans to further expand its use in grassroots hospitals.
Detailed Analysis
1. Technological Revolution: From "Plugging Holes" to "Reconstructing Vessels"
Cerebral aneurysms are like small bulges in blood vessels that can lead to strokes, resulting in high rates of death and disability. Previously, doctors used coils to plug these holes, but this method often led to recurrence, and not all aneurysms could be treated this way. Dr. Liu Jianmin's team proposed a "blood flow-directed" approach, which involves placing a fine mesh device inside the blood vessel to direct blood away from the aneurysm, allowing the vessel to heal on its own over time (effectively reconstructing its function).
- Data Highlights: The six-month cure rate for large aneurysms has increased from 24.5% to 75.3%, and the two-year cure rate has reached 92.3%. The recurrence rate has dropped from 60.4% to 2.8%, solving a decades-old challenge in the field.
2. Overcoming Communication Barriers between Doctors and Engineers
Doctors and engineers often have difficulty communicating effectively. For example, doctors describe the need for a device to be "more flexible and better fitted to the blood vessel walls," but engineers use technical terms like "30% metal coverage" and "200-mesh density," which are unclear to doctors. The team developed a system to translate these requirements into measurable parameters, such as the ability to withstand certain forces without deformation (indicating flexibility) and a fitting degree of at least 95% with the vessel wall. This approach helped them overcome five key technical challenges and develop six sets of production equipment, enabling them to control every aspect of the manufacturing process from research to mass production.
3. Domestication: Breaking Dependence on Foreign Technologies
High-end neurointerventional devices were previously imported, which were expensive and could be in short supply. The team replaced all 21 core materials with domestic alternatives and established the first domestic production platform for blood flow-directed devices, obtaining 51 patents (including several international ones). This achievement means that patients no longer rely on foreign suppliers, reducing costs and ensuring a stable supply for hospitals, while strengthening China's medical industry in this field.
4. Global Impact: Benefiting Patients Worldwide
The product is already used in over 3,500 hospitals across China and has been exported to 34 countries, including the United States and the European Union, saving a total of 76,000 lives. The team aims to make this technology more accessible to patients in grassroots hospitals by simplifying the procedure and providing training for doctors. They also plan to establish a national network for treating cerebral aneurysms, ensuring that patients can receive quality care closer to home. With its superior effectiveness compared to foreign alternatives, this technology could become a symbol of Chinese medical innovation on the global stage.
5. From Learners to Contributors: A New Path for Medical Innovation in China
Dr. Liu Jianmin emphasized that their project marks a shift from simply adopting foreign technologies to contributing original innovations. This team started with clinical challenges and developed a breakthrough solution, establishing a comprehensive framework for research, development, and dissemination. This serves as a model for other medical innovation projects: true innovation is not just about theoretical papers in laboratories but about practical solutions that benefit people's lives.
This project has not only saved lives but also promoted the advancement of China's medical industry, demonstrating its strength in medical innovation. In simple terms, it's a win-win situation that improves patient care and enhances China's reputation in the global healthcare community.