Deep Analysis of the Specific Thinking Behind Equipment Creation

On April 30th, at the emergency entrance of Xi'an International Center, an infrared thermal imaging camera is being used for contactless temperature measurement of those entering and exiting.

At the emergency entrance of Xi'an International Center, an infrared thermal imaging camera stands quietly in the corner. Individuals passing by it are unknowingly subjected to body temperature checks. Should a feverish patient be detected, the device immediately triggers an alarm. Since early February, with the arrival of three infrared intelligent remote body temperature detection systems, the hospital has gained three sets of special "eyes."

This is a microcosm of how intelligent equipment is aiding in the prevention and control efforts. As we advance the domestic public health system, it is also acting as a catalyst and accelerator for the long-term development of the medical equipment industry. Equipment companies are increasingly leveraging technology and digital innovation to bring their unique strengths to the table, enhancing services to become smarter and more precise, thereby safeguarding public health.

As some industry experts have noted, under the normalization of prevention and control measures, we need such equipment wrapped in elements like "contactless," "intelligent," and "digital automation" more than ever. Similarly, they will play a significant role in assisting with the intelligent management of the public health system, creating a strong market demand.

1. The pandemic highlights the shortage of intelligent medical equipment

On the morning of March 9th, the Information Office of Shaanxi Province held a press conference on the province's efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. It was mentioned that since the outbreak of COVID-19, the province has actively leveraged its technical expertise in artificial intelligence, thermal imaging, facial recognition, and robotics. It has developed products such as infrared thermometers for body temperature screening, non-contact stethoscopes, patrol robots, unmanned disinfection and inspection robots, and disinfection service drones, which have been deployed in train stations, bus stations, airports, and other crowded places across multiple provinces. These measures have established a safety barrier against the flow and congregation of people returning to work and production.

Since the outbreak, the team led by Meixuesong from Xi'an Jiaotong University has developed a series of products including body temperature screening patrol robots and unmanned disinfection patrol robots, which have been applied in environments such as Hubei Provincial People's Hospital.

In early February, the Zhuoer Public Welfare Foundation donated 6 infrared intelligent remote body temperature detection systems. Three were placed at the Xi'an International Center, two at the International High-Tech Park, and one at the International Shangluo. As pedestrians pass by the infrared lens within 8 meters, the system can display human thermal images and high surface temperatures in just one second. Operators can then obtain accurate data with a resolution of 0.05 degrees Celsius, addressing the issue of close contact required for traditional temperature measurements. This system can effectively, quickly, and non-contactly measure the body temperature of pedestrians, not only avoiding crowds and cross-infections but also significantly reducing the workload of staff, effectively establishing an "intelligent defense line" for prevention and control.

The equipment industry encompasses a wide range of fields. After effective control measures, certain niche markets are experiencing explosive growth, including robots equipped with disinfection and protective functions. Wearable health monitoring devices and AI-assisted diagnostic systems are rapidly gaining popularity and application, transforming traditional disease prevention and detection methods, and providing new means to enhance the quality of healthcare services.

A professional research report indicates that nearly 1 million robots will be used in the commercial sector in 2020, with over half being professional service robots, generating over $16 billion in revenue, a 30% increase from 2019.

China's domestic replacement of smart equipment is accelerating.

As industry standards are revised and refined, the domestic medical device industry will be more conducive to developing towards standardization, normalization, and high quality. After undergoing a "major exam," the domestic substitution in the medical device industry has accelerated.

The development of intelligent equipment is supported by "hard technology." In early February, Xi'an Zhizhen Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Zhizhen Technology), an incubated enterprise at the Cross-Information Core Institute in Xi'an High-Tech Zone, participated in the research and development of the "Intelligent Auxiliary Diagnosis System for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia." The project has passed the acceptance. Wang Bo, the responsible person of Zhizhen Technology, stated that the intelligent auxiliary diagnosis system for novel coronavirus pneumonia can complete a large number of chest CT screenings for suspected cases in a short period of time, significantly enhancing the diagnostic efficiency of novel coronavirus pneumonia, greatly alleviating the clinical pressure on the front line of treatment, enabling patients to receive early and accurate diagnoses, and ultimately improving patient prognosis and reducing mortality rates.

In mid-February, a research team from Xi'an University of Electronic Science and Technology collaborated with the Imaging Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 through remote video conferences. Building on their previous research in image processing, they conducted scientific research and攻关, discussing plans and designing models. Relying on CT images of the lungs of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients from Shanghai Ruijin Hospital and the Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, they developed an early detection and screening model system for novel coronavirus based on deep learning by analyzing the characteristics of CT images of COVID-19 patients' lungs. After testing with outpatient data, the model can reduce the workload of personnel by nearly 80%, and the detection recall rate for COVID-19 patients exceeds 95%.

Reporters have learned from several sources in Xi'an that some intelligent equipment, including infrared intelligent remote body temperature detection systems and delivery robots, have already made their debut on the front lines. Moreover, the domestic proportion of these devices is gradually increasing.

Industry experts state that only by competing with high-quality domestic branded products against imported ones can the market prices of smart medical devices decrease, truly benefiting the general public. If the shortcomings of domestic smart medical devices can be addressed, many diseases can be prevented, early diagnosis and intervention can be achieved, and overall costs will decrease, which will be more conducive to the health of the people.

In April 2019, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) initiated the China Medicines Regulatory Science Program. To accelerate the research on key technologies for the safety supervision of artificial intelligence (AI) medical devices, the NMPA has included the research on the safety and efficacy evaluation of AI medical devices in its key regulatory science projects. As people's pursuit of health and awareness of protection increase, the nation's emphasis on the medical device industry strengthens, and with the promotion of supporting policies, domestic substitution is expected to become the main theme of the future medical device industry.

The market potential for smart devices is significant.

The various intelligent robots now showcasing their capabilities have merely unveiled the tip of the iceberg in the machinery industry.