Medtronic Unveils AiBLE™ Digital Intelligence Ecosystem at CIIE, Accelerating Local Innovation in Orthopedics and Neurosurgery

ShanghaiNovember 6, 2023PR Newswire -- As a "long-time friend of CIIE," at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Medtronic China's Orthopedics and Neurosurgery Business Group showcased its full range of AiBLE™ Digital Orthopedics and Digital Neurosurgery Integrated Solutions. More notably, it launched the China debut of the AiBLE™ Digital Ecosystem, comprehensively demonstrating Medtronic's firm commitment to actively participating in the high-quality development of the Chinese market, deeply engaging in local innovation, accelerating the establishment of a local innovation ecosystem, and comprehensively speeding up the digital transformation and advancement of orthopedics and neurosurgery in China.

Medtronic AiBLE™ Digital Intelligence Ecosystem Promotion and Cooperation Signing Ceremony

Strengthen Confidence in Rooting in China, Accelerate the Introduction of Innovative Products and Solutions

Multiple advanced products and technologies from Medtronic China's Orthopedics and Neurosurgery Business Group have fully benefited from the driving force and spillover effects of the CIIE. For instance, the Medtronic Mazor X™ Spine Surgery Navigation and Positioning System, Stealth Autoguide™ Cranial Surgery Positioning Device, and Infuse™ Bone Repair Material all rapidly completed the transition "from exhibit to product" after their debut, moving beyond the "Four-Leaf Clover" and reaching patients in China.

Sixth Time at CIIE, Medtronic Not Only Brings Globally Leading Technologies, Products, and Services to China but Also "Tailor-Makes" Cutting-Edge Solutions and Concepts to Meet China's Development Trends. The Fully Displayed Medtronic AiBLE™ Digital and Intelligent Orthopedics/Neurosurgery Integrated Solution Organically Integrates Medtronic’s World-Leading Implants with the Mazor X™ Spine Surgery Robot/Stealth Autoguide™ Neurosurgery Robot, Surgical Navigation Systems, Intraoperative Imaging Systems, Surgical Power Systems, and Other Smart Devices. Linked by Big Data and Empowered by AI, These Systems Work Synergistically to Enhance Surgical Outcomes, Simplify Complex Surgeries, and Standardize Simple Surgeries.

Medtronic Digital Orthopedics and Digital Neurosurgery Debut at CIIE

Actively aligning with national strategies such as Digital China and Innovative China, and rooted in a strong foundation of innovation, Medtronic has launched the groundbreaking healthcare concept — “AiBLE™ Digital Ecosystem.” Focusing on digital and intelligent trends, the AiBLE™ Digital Ecosystem centers around an integrated platform for orthopedics and neurosurgery. Leveraging the power of digitalization and artificial intelligence, it establishes a collaborative platform for industry, academia, research, and medicine. Through in-depth cooperation with clinical experts, medical institutions, and industry partners, it seeks advancements in data processing, information infrastructure, new material sciences, and innovative therapies, comprehensively expanding the application prospects of digital and intelligent solutions in China’s orthopedic and neurosurgical fields.

Deeply Integrate into Local Innovation, Strengthen Local R&D and Production Capabilities

The six years of walking alongside the CIIE have also been six years of continuous upgrading and strengthening of Medtronic's Orthopedics and Neurological Business Group’s localization strategy. From "exhibitor" to "investor," Medtronic has increased its investment in building local innovation capabilities and accelerated the domestic production process of advanced therapies.

In April 2023, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Medtronic Kanghui Changzhou Science and Technology Park was held, marking the start of the comprehensive construction of a smart manufacturing center, an excellence R&D center, an innovation incubation center, and a customer experience center. Based in the science park, a series of new products fully developed and manufactured in China—including surgical navigation systems, brain monitoring, neuro-monitoring, and a new generation of robotics—are expected to be launched within the next 2-3 years. Among them, the Chinese version of the Mazor spinal navigation robot—Mazor™ XC engineering prototype—rolled off the production line in April this year and is expected to hit the market by the end of next year.

At the same time, the innovation incubator at the Medtronic Kanghui Technology Park has begun operations. It will be deeply involved in local innovation, promoting the transformation of patents into products and products into commodities. The incubator provides one-stop services for innovative projects and startups, including policy support, capital assistance, business services, R&D consulting, and access to ecosystem resources. By leveraging digital intelligence, Medtronic is committed to fostering an innovation value chain with stronger conversion capabilities, creating a "strong magnet" that aggregates both talent and technology. In collaboration with the entire supply chain, it aims to share resources and pursue high-quality development, driving the advancement of orthopedics and neuroscience in China.

Join Hands with Industry Partners to Integrate and Build a Local Innovative Ecosystem

On the new journey of high-quality development, breaking through the barriers of deep industrial integration and promoting collaborative innovation has become an industry consensus, as well as a strategic principle that Medtronic has long adhered to and firmly implemented in China. The AiBLE™ Digital Ecosystem is Medtronic's blueprint in the fields of orthopedics and neurosurgery, aiming to build a comprehensive ecosystem that spans from products to services, and further extends to industry-academia-research collaboration and broader industry cooperation.

At the exhibition booth, Medtronic announced another innovative upgrade and ecosystem expansion by signing a strategic cooperation agreement with Esaote Group to deepen collaboration on the full range of ultrasound products. This partnership aims to provide clinical settings with more comprehensive and precise integrated diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, empowering the development of neurosurgery and orthopedics in China. Mr. Wu Shuang, Chairman of Esaote Group, stated: "With over forty years of dedication to the medical imaging field, Esaote possesses cutting-edge ultrasound technologies. We share a common vision with Medtronic and fully recognize Medtronic’s forward-thinking digital and intelligent ecosystem concept. We look forward to our cooperation leading the digital and intelligent development of the medical field together."

As a firm executor of the localized strategy, the construction of the AiBLE™ Smart Ecosystem is a key part of Medtronic's deep involvement in local innovation development. Medtronic has taken the lead by actively expanding its smart ecosystem network, successively reaching strategic cooperation with advanced industry partners and national medical centers. As pioneers of the AiBLE™ Smart Orthopedic Ecosystem, Ms. Liu Zhenrong, founder and CEO of Allin Medicine and Beijing Ouying Technology Co., Ltd., and Ms. Zhu Minli, Executive Dean of Zhenjiang Ruikang Hospital, shared valuable exploration results on-site. In May 2023, Medtronic and Allin Medicine reached a strategic cooperation agreement. Both parties will cooperate in various aspects such as digital training, digital marketing, digital services, and data platform construction to jointly explore innovative concepts in smart orthopedics and create an all-inclusive, full-chain, and comprehensive innovative solution. Zhenjiang Ruikang Hospital, under Asia Pacific Medical Group, is the first medical center to be fully equipped with Medtronic’s AiBLE™ Smart Orthopedic Solution at one time. The strategic cooperation aims to establish an innovative integrated cooperation model and carry out surgical procedure collaboration in related fields to improve the accessibility and efficiency of high-quality medical resources. It will also fully leverage the synergy in expert resources, strengthen discipline construction through academic exchanges and clinical training, enhance the capabilities of medical institutions and their teams, and explore one-stop financing support services and flexible payment schemes for innovative therapies, making high-quality medical services more accessible.

Through the platform of the CIIE, which is open, shared, and focused on win-win cooperation, Medtronic looks forward to establishing extensive local collaborations, expanding its "ecosystem partnerships," exploring replicable models of collaborative innovation, unleashing the rich potential of the AiBLE™ digital intelligence ecosystem, and jointly injecting continuous vitality into the digital and intelligent upgrading of the industry, thereby truly benefiting patients.

Speech by Ms. Yu Jing, Vice President of Medtronic, General Manager of China Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, and Surgical Business

"In Medtronic's view, the AiBLE™ Digital Ecosystem is the direction we see, and more importantly, the future we believe in!" Vice President of Medtronic、Yu Jing, General Manager of Medtronic's Orthopedics and Neurosurgery Business as well as Surgical Business in China, stated, "Riding the strong momentum of the CIIE, we look forward to connecting with multi-partner collaborators from industry, academia, research, and medicine to fully unleash China's local innovation capabilities. Together, within a co-created, co-built, symbiotic, and mutually prosperous digital and intelligent orthopedics and neurosurgery ecosystem, we are stepping into a brand-new future of China's medical technology innovation!"