China's First IABP System Deployed at Fuwai Hospital

Another technology long subject to foreign restrictions in the field of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) system has been successfully mastered by a Chinese medical device company.

During the New Year period, a team led by Professor Yang Weixian at Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, admitted and performed emergency rescue on an 80-year-old patient with acute myocardial infarction. 

The patient's condition was critical upon admission. After thorough discussion, Professor Yang Weixian, Dr. Tian Tao, and Dr. Xu Haobo performed PCI surgery on the patient, utilizing TL-IABP-100 and TL-IAB-40 system to provide hemodynamic support during the procedure to prevent circulatory collapse. 

Post-surgery, the patient received close monitoring and recovered well. Circulatory support was successfully discontinued after more than 50 hours, and the patient was ultimately discharged safely. 

Both the technology and the products possess independent domestic intellectual property rights and are manufactured in China, successfully demonstrating the stability and reliability of domestically produced intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation technology.

This marks the first national clinical application of a domestically produced IABP system. Previously, this field had long relied on foreign brands, requiring imports for both equipment and consumables. The application of the domestic IABP system formally declares the end of the decades-long monopoly held by foreign brands.

With China's aging population and the trend of diseases affecting younger individuals, nearly 5 million patients require cardiac surgery each year. IABP system can provide hemodynamic support for complex surgeries, safeguarding over a hundred thousand high-risk cardiac patients annually. The breakthrough in domestic technology and its successful clinical application offer more high-quality options for Chinese doctors and patients.

Supporting PCI Surgery

The patient in this case was an elderly male in critical condition upon admission. After thorough discussion, Professor Yang Weixian's team performed PCI surgery, utilizing the TL-IABP-100 to provide hemodynamic support during the procedure to prevent circulatory collapse.

Following meticulous preoperative preparation and skilled surgical operation by Professor Yang Weixian's team, the balloon was successfully placed after puncture. The counterpulsation effect was evident upon initiation, with the counterpulsation pressure approximately 20mmHg higher than the patient's own arterial pressure. Stable operation ensured the successful completion of the PCI procedure. Post-surgery, the patient received close monitoring, recovered well, circulatory support was successfully discontinued after more than 50 hours, and the patient was ultimately discharged safely.

China's Dual Firsts: Guarding "Heart" Hope

IABP is primarily used to treat critically ill cardiac patients. It is applicable for acute myocardial infarction complicated by severe heart failure or cardiogenic shock, mechanical complications of AMI, refractory angina, perioperative support for high-risk PCI, and as a bridge to heart transplantation, among other uses. Balloons with anticoagulation and high wear-resistant properties are essential consumables for IABP.

The TL-IABP-100 and the TL-IAB-30/TL-IAB-40 represent China's first independently developed IABP device and balloon system, breaking the long-standing reliance on imports in this field. They can provide safe, effective, and accessible diagnosis and treatment solutions for critically ill cardiac patients.

The TL-IABP-100 was developed according to leading standards, incorporating technological achievements from recent years. Innovations were made in the pneumatic system, control algorithms, and software functions, continuously improving the precision and effectiveness of counterpulsation therapy to achieve greater hemodynamic benefits.

The TL-IAB-30/TL-IAB-40 underwent structurally optimized design and utilizes high-quality manufacturing materials, possessing excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. They can achieve faster inflation/deflation speeds, provide efficient and stable hemodynamic support, and contribute to better therapeutic outcomes. Meanwhile, Tongling Bionic is actively developing other balloon models to meet diverse clinical needs.