Two International Procedure Live Streams in One Day: XMCH Supports the Global Expansion of Domestic Innovative Medical Devices

On the morning of December 13, Beijing time, the Interventional Treatment Center at Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital Xiamen University(hereinafter referred to as "XMCH") started a busy day even earlier than usual. On this day, the hospital's team, led by President Wang Yan, was invited to participate in two international cardiovascular interventional therapy workshops online. The team connected with experts from Latin America and Western Asia to share China’s solutions for valve interventional therapy and expert experiences, while performing two high-difficulty Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) live using two domestic innovative devices.

From Latin America to Western Asia: Showcasing Chinese Solutions

At 8:30 PM on December 12, Buenos Aires time, XMCH's team participated in the Latin American Heart Valve Intervention Workshop, where they joined cardiovascular experts from Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and other countries to discuss innovations in valve interventional therapy and clinical experience. Professor Wang Bin of XMCH presented a talk titled “VenusA Pro Experience in China,” sharing the hospital’s successful experiences and deep expertise in performing TAVI using the domestic VenusA Pro transcatheter aortic valve implantation system. Subsequently, President Wang Yan led the team in a live broadcast of a complex TAVI using VenusA Pro, showcasing the superior performance of domestic devices and the expertise of Chinese specialists to Latin American experts.

At 11:30 AM on December 13, Baku time, the Xiamen team participated in the Azerbaijan Cardiology Festival, where they engaged in an online discussion with Azerbaijani experts. Professor Wang Bin delivered a lecture on “Bicuspid Aortic Valve Chinese Experience and Strategy,” sharing China’s experience and strategy in TAVI for bicuspid aortic valves. President Wang Yan led the team in performing a high-difficulty TAVI live using the domestic VitaFlow transcatheter aortic valve implantation system. Notably, in July of this year, President Wang Yan visited Azerbaijan for academic exchanges, visiting several renowned medical institutions in Baku and discussing with current and former presidents of the Azerbaijan Heart Association, Professor Ulvi Mirzoyev and Professor Rahimov Uzeyir, about using VitaFlow for heart valve interventional procedures.

In one day, spanning multiple time zones, the team completed two spectacular procedures live streams, not only demonstrating the high level of Chinese expertise but also presenting advanced solutions from domestic valve systems to foreign experts. This serves as strong support for the overseas promotion and application of domestic innovative medical devices, reflecting XMCH's dedication to advancing the global reach of China's innovative medical technologies.

Going Global and Bringing in: Supporting the Global Expansion of Domestic Devices

As the National Regional Medical Center for Cardiovascular Disease, a sub-center of the National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease,and one of China’s first interventional centers for valvular heart disease, XMCH regularly performs various valve interventional surgeries, with the complexity and volume of surgeries ranking among the top in China. At the same time, the hospital actively promotes domestic innovation, collaborating with enterprises to develop numerous innovative medical devices, some of which are first-in-country and even first-in-the-world technologies. Building on this foundation, XMCH has been actively supporting the global promotion of domestic innovative medical devices, continuously exploring a path of “going global” combined with “bringing in.”

In terms of “going global,” XMCH, in collaboration with domestic medical device companies, has conducted academic exchanges and surgical guidance in countries such as El Salvador, Brazil, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Russia, and Canada. The hospital has performed the first implants of Chinese innovative medical devices in local regions, guiding local hospitals in advancing cardiovascular innovative technologies. Through direct clinical teaching and hands-on experience, they are promoting international recognition of Chinese innovative medical devices and laying a solid foundation for their global application.

In terms of “bringing in,” XMCH launched the Heart Sapling Visiting Scholar Program at the end of 2022, inviting international young doctors for cardiovascular specialist training. This program was officially announced by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) during a high-level event at the United Nations headquarters and has been included in the Incubation Pool and the Achievement Pool of the Global Development Project Pool of CIDCA. So far, the hospital has received 14 trainees from eight countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, El Salvador, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. These visiting scholars study Chinese innovative technologies and use domestic innovative devices, planting the seeds for the future application and promotion of Chinese devices in their home countries.

In the future, XMCH will continue to explore a new model of development combining "going global" and "bringing in," fostering medical enterprise collaboration and expanding globally. The hospital aims to contribute to the promotion of Chinese innovative medical devices worldwide and enhance China’s international medical influence.