By XiaoWu, video by Yiling Wang, iChongqing news.

Chongqing – The application of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) into surgery makes no scar, no bleeding, and no damage to healthy tissues possible. With HIFU, it won’t be necessary for the doctors to stand by the operation stage to conduct the operation. Instead, under the ultrasound or magnetic resonance real-time monitoring, doctors can carry out the surgery by moving the mouse at hand. HIFU is proven to make the operation safer and more comfortable.

Since the first large-scale HIFU Tumor Therapeutic System in China was developed by Chongqing medical team in 1999, Chongqing has taken the leading role in HIFU technique internationally.

From July 12 to 14, the Annual Meeting of the Minimally Invasive and Noninvasive Medicine Committee of CMDA, Forum of Reproductive Health Society, China Preventive Medicine Association and Fourth Yangtze International Summit of Minimally Invasive and Noninvasive Medicine were held in Chongqing Yuelai International Center. More than 1000 guests from 29 countries and regions, including China, Britain, Germany, Spain, South Korea, Egypt, and Bulgaria attended the event. Two hundred thirty inspiring lectures on the topic of the cutting-edge treatment in invasive and noninvasive medicine were delivered within two days.

The event is sponsored by the Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA) and the Minimally Invasive and Noninvasive Medicine Committee of CMDA and organized by Chongqing Medical University. The choice of Chongqing as summit location was in large part due to the renowned HIFU technique Chongqing holds.

iChongqing took exclusive interviews with the prominent medical experts during the event to hear about their vision on HIFU development.

Prof. Wang Zhibiao, inventor of HIFU Tumor Therapeutic System：

“Chongqing takes the leading role in HIFU technique.”

Applying HIFU into surgeries such as bone cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and uterine fibroids became possible thanks to a Chinese medical team from Chongqing. After years of research and development, in 1999, Prof. Wang Zhibiao and his team invented the first large-scale medical device in China, with the completely independent intellectual property right, HIFU Tumor Therapeutic System. The system has been clinically applicable in treating tumor noninvasively and extracorporeally. As time goes by, the Chongqing HIFU technique has set many world records in its clinical application since then.

According to Prof. Wang, so far, 585 hospitals and medical institutions worldwide have adopted HIFU, while 285 of them are using the HIFU technique from Chongqing. 2000 to 2018, a total of 121,814 cases of benign and malignant tumor diseases worldwide were treated with HIFU technique from Chongqing, including 109,948 cases of benign tumors and 11,866 cases of malignant tumors. “The profound benefit that the HIFU technique brings is minimizing harm to patients and saving the organs such as uterus, prostate, and breast,” Said Prof. Wang. He also gave an impressive assumption, “Every year, 200 million females in China have their uterus removed due to certain diseases. If HIFU is applied in the scenario more extensively, hopefully over 50% of them can avoid removing uterus while curing the diseases.” Prof. Wang told iChongqing that the Minimally Invasive and Noninvasive Medicine Committee of CMDA was first founded in Chongqing. The first successful certain surgery cases with HIFU happened in Chongqing. Many standards of HIFU technique got established in Chongqing. Chongqing is taking the leading role in the field. 

Associate Professor from the University of Oxford:

“Our first Chinese HIFU machine to Oxford is from Chongqing”

Mr. David Craston, Associate Professor of Surgery in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences in the University of Oxford, has witnessed the cooperation between Oxford HIFU Center and Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co., Ltd (Chongqing Haifu)  for past ten plus years. “It all started in 1999 with a patient of mine. We had links to China, so we took our first Chinese HIFU machine from Chongqing to Oxford in early 2000. We get certification for it and approved by the EU,” Mr. Cranston told iChongqing. Following that, there have been now a lot of other machines in Europe as a result of the work Mr. Cranston and his colleagues did from that first machine. He told iChongqing that the use of HIFU is increasing and the HIFU development in the past ten years has been extraordinary in terms of scientific application and development clinically of HIFU. He continued, “Chongqing Haifu is a company with great integrity and enjoys a good reputation internationally. We are working with them and excited to see the possible future development of different machines.”

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of APAGE:

“APAGE will seek to cooperate with Chongqing Haifu in 3 different ways.”

Chyi-Long Lee, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Asia-Pacific Association for Gynecologic Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy (APAGE), has been actively involved in promoting education, training, and research in the medical field around Asia-Pacific regions. “Along with Chongqing Haifu, I hope we can do more research and education around China and Asia-Pacific regions.” He said. According to Mr. Lee, APAGE will cooperate with Chongqing Haifu in 3 different ways. The first way is teaching. We will assist with Haifu to train doctors in Chongqing. The second is the certificate. We will develop a certificate program with Chongqing Haifu. Doctors can get certified then they can do the surgery with HIFU. The third one is to do research together in the field. “HIFU is the trend. I hope we can promote it more.” Mr. Lee said.

Former President of ISGE：

“Take the mission to introduce Chongqing HIFU technique into Europe”

Mr. Hugo C. Verhoeve, Former President of ISGE (international society of gynecologic endoscopy) and former board member of ESGE (European Society of Gynecology Endoscopy), was among the attendants. He and his team back to Germany are contributing in fields of reproductive medicine and surgery around the world for years. “(The) last 20 years, although we increased the medical instruments and got better in techniques, principally, we couldn’t reduce the pain and harm that surgery brought to the patients.”  Two years ago, he heard about the possibility of making a completely noninvasive reduction and remove of myomas by using HIFU technique. “From the beginning on, we were very interested in no pain, payable, and no scars surgery technique. So, I tried to get in contact with people who offered the technique. Haifu  in Chongqing is certainly the leading center in the field internationally.” Said Mr. Hugo. He told iChongqing that he would love to introduce the technique into Europe as Europe is at the beginning of this field.

The doctor from India:

“HIFU will bring great benefits to our patients in India.”

Dr. Ashok Kumar from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maulana Azad Medical College & Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India takes an active role in promoting Chongqing HIFU technique in India. He used to participate in the Silkroad Scholarship medical training program hosted by Chongqing Municipal People’s Government. During the one-month training, Dr. Kumar was impressed by the HIFU technique. Since then, he promoted HIFU in different parts in India through conferences. “Infection is a major problem back to our country. However, with HIFU, surgery can be conducted without any surgical environment, without scar and blood loss. It is very beneficial to our patients. It should be in India soon.” Dr. Kumar told iChongqing.