China's independently developed Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) system successfully completed its first global clinical application at Shanghai Chest Hospital, marking another major breakthrough in the field of cardiac interventional medicine. Led by Dr. He, the surgical team used this innovative domestic technology to perform a left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) procedure on a patient with atrial fibrillation at high risk of stroke and bleeding, achieving outstanding results.

Domestic ICE System Breaks Foreign Monopoly

The ICE system is the first Chinese-made system (comprising both the catheter and the main console) approved through an innovation green channel and launched in the market. With its enhanced depth of detection, the system optimizes the procedure of LAAC under ICE guidance, improves surgical efficiency, reduces complications, and ensures greater patient safety.

This breakthrough signifies China's self-sufficiency in this field. Before 2023, the core technology of ICE was monopolized by foreign companies. However, China's ICE system has now achieved performance levels on par with, and in some cases even exceeding, foreign products in terms of catheter maneuverability and image quality, overcoming significant technological challenges.

First Global Clinical Application—Successful Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation Patient

The patient in this pioneering surgery was a 65-year-old woman admitted due to atrial fibrillation accompanied by gum and skin bleeding. After evaluating her condition, the medical team determined she was at high risk of both stroke and bleeding. Following thorough discussions with the patient and her family, the team opted to use Sahe Medical's ICE system to perform a LAAC procedure.

Under ICE guidance and with their extensive experience, the surgical team completed the procedure safely and accurately in under an hour. The surgery was a success, addressing the patient's dual concerns of preventing blood clots and managing bleeding risks.

After the procedure, Dr.He noted that the ICE system acts as the doctor's“third eye”during cardiac interventional procedures, assisting with positioning, monitoring, and evaluation. This makes the surgery safer, more precise, and more efficient, while enhancing the patient’s comfort. The domestically developed ICE system provides clear views of the relationship between the atrial septum and the left atrial appendage, assisting in thrombus screening, puncture site identification, and catheter alignment. It also facilitates real-time positioning and deployment of the LAAC device. Dr. He expressed great anticipation for the system's broader use in other procedures, benefiting a wider range of patients.

Technological Advantages and Broad Application Prospects of ICE System

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a medical technology that integrates a miniature transducer into a catheter, which is introduced into the heart chamber via the femoral vein. The transducer emits sound waves, and the received echoes are processed by a computer to form ultrasound images. This system provides high-resolution, real-time ultrasound images of the heart’s internal structures and other interventional devices, and it monitors hemodynamic conditions in real-time.

The technical barriers of ICE are exceptionally high, requiring advancements in materials research, transducer development, catheter packaging, precision mechanical transmission, and image algorithms. Until 2023, these core manufacturing technologies were completely monopolized by foreign companies.

Research shows that China's ICE system matches or surpasses international products in terms of catheter operability and image quality, breaking the technological bottleneck in this field.