Medtronic Kanghui and Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Sign Agreement to Advance Tibial Plateau Technology Commercialization

BeijingOctober 20, 2023PR Newswire -- On October 19, Medtronic Kanghui and Beijing Jishuitan Hospital signed a cooperation agreement on the "Technology Achievement Transformation of Tibial Plateau," based on the previously co-developed posterior lateral tibial plateau plate and nail system, to further promote its industrialization. As a significant breakthrough in the clinical field of orthopedic trauma, this patented achievement not only addresses critical clinical challenges but also provides a more efficient and safer treatment option for patients with tibial plateau fractures. With this as a new starting point, the two parties will further deepen their collaboration on industry-university-research-medical projects, using an integrated innovation and transformation model to strengthen collaborative innovation and achievement transformation, contributing to Healthy China.

Group Photo at the Signing Ceremony of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital and Kanghui Medical Group

At present, with the advancement of the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the implementation and incentives of national policies on the transformation of scientific and technological innovation achievements, the "gold content" of medical science and technology innovation is increasing day by day. Data from the "China Hospital Innovation Transformation Ranking (2022)" shows that in 2022, the patent transformation performance of tertiary hospitals in China was remarkable, with the total number of authorizations and licenses increasing by 48% and 84%, respectively, compared to 2021.

To drive innovative achievements from "nothing" to "something," and to transform and apply them back into clinical use, it is essential to effectively combine front-end innovation capabilities in scientific research with back-end transformation abilities. As an innovative source closely aligned with patient needs, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital has accumulated extensive expertise in clinical research and professional experience in the integration of industry and medicine. Meanwhile, Medtronic Kanghui, with its strong R&D capabilities, leading manufacturing techniques, and abundant industry resources, can accelerate the validation, incubation, and commercialization of innovative products, achieving their clinical implementation and industrialization.

Unveiling Ceremony for the Transformation of Tibial Plateau Technology Achievements

Posterior Lateral Tibial Plateau Fracture is a special type of fracture, accounting for about 8%-15% of all tibial plateau fractures. Due to the obstruction of the posterior lateral fibular head and the presence of important blood vessels, nerves, and other structures running along the back of the knee joint, the reduction and fixation of the posterior lateral tibial plateau fracture fragments present numerous challenges, making it one of the difficulties in treating complex tibial plateau fractures. Medtronic Kanghui and Beijing Jishuitan Hospital have now taken the lead in focusing on this clinically less-attended area where existing solutions have significant pain points. Based on the clinical insights into these pain points and challenges, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital transformed them into innovative design ideas, while Medtronic Kanghui provided strong R&D support. They have successfully developed the "Anatomical Posterior Lateral Tibial Plateau Plate and Screw System."

This innovative solution, supported by four patents and featuring multiple innovation points in a Me-first (original research first) design, is suitable for traditional anterolateral surgical approaches. It offers significant clinical advantages such as compatibility with anterolateral fracture fixation and reduced damage to posterior soft tissue and blood vessels. As a major breakthrough in the field of orthopedic trauma, the rapid commercialization of this achievement will provide safer and more precise treatment options for patients with tibial plateau fractures. With the deepening of subsequent cooperation between the two parties, this locally innovative achievement is expected to reach the global market, benefiting patients worldwide with a Chinese solution. In the future, Medtronic Kanghui and Beijing Jishuitan Hospital will further share resources and promote innovation, empowering the establishment of a local innovation ecosystem, overcoming key "bottleneck" medical technology challenges, and promoting more technological achievements in the field of orthopedic trauma to be truly applied in clinical practice.

Professor Jiang Xieyuan, President of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital

As a benchmark of tertiary hospitals in China and an important part of the National Orthopedic Medical Center, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital has been relentlessly pursuing a model that integrates industry, academia, and research oriented towards clinical needs. It actively explores the systems and mechanisms for transforming achievements, builds a comprehensive platform for technology transfer, and establishes a highland for innovative research and achievement transformation.

"This signing is one of our hospital's important measures to implement the transformation of clinical innovation achievements and adhere to China's innovation-driven development strategy," said President Xieyuan Jiang of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. "Innovation comes from clinical practice and serves clinical practice. This collaboration with Medtronic Kanghui has elevated our confidence in solving clinical problems and promoting scientific and technological innovation to new heights. We will continue to firmly focus on people's health, accelerate the clinical development process in the trauma field, and make relentless efforts towards the evolution from Made in China to Created in China!"

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

Based on Medtronic's localization strategy, Medtronic China's Orthopedics and Neurosurgery Business Group operates two major brands in China: Medtronic and Kanghui. It continues to invest in local innovation and local manufacturing, while strengthening its local capabilities comprehensively through the "Medtronic Kanghui Changzhou Science and Technology Park." These capabilities encompass R&D, production, commerce, quality control, and business development. By providing cutting-edge innovative concepts, technical support, and comprehensive and rapid software and hardware support for clinical innovation, it achieves an innovation closed loop of "demand-research-conversion." While bringing advanced and innovative therapies to Chinese patients, Medtronic China's Orthopedics and Neurosurgery Business Group officially launched the AiBLE™ Digital Orthopedic Innovation Ecosystem this May to accelerate the digital and intelligent transformation of the industry, build an open and win-win local innovation ecosystem, and promote high-quality industrial development.

Deputy Director of the Changzhou National High-tech Industrial Development Zone Management Committee, Deputy District Chief of Xinbei District People's Government, Hang Hongwei

Changzhou, Jiangsu is an important global production base for orthopedic implants. Relying on the innovation incubator established in the Medtronic Kanghui Changzhou Science and Technology Park, it is deeply involved in the collaborative innovation and exchange of industry, academia, research, and medicine in the fields of orthopedics and neurosurgery. "This signing not only represents the close cooperation between the two parties but also marks a new milestone in the coordinated development of technological innovation and healthcare," said Hang Hongwei, Deputy Director of the Changzhou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone Management Committee and Deputy District Chief of Xinbei District Government. "The High-Tech Zone will continue to encourage and support this kind of cross-disciplinary cooperation, providing enterprises with a favorable development environment and policy support. We believe that this collaboration will become a model in the field of orthopedic healthcare, inspiring more cooperation between companies and medical institutions, and jointly promoting the innovation and development of medical technology."

"The innovation in medical technology must be a path of collaboration and integrated innovation. The successful transformation of the tibial plateau technology with Beijing Jishuitan Hospital has also created a new model of industry-hospital collaboration, marking an important milestone for Medtronic in advancing the coordinated innovation and development of industry, academia, research, and medicine." Yu Jing, Vice President of Medtronic, General Manager of China Orthopedics & Neurosurgery Business and Surgical Business, stated: "We hope this will be the starting point where both parties can join hands to push the localization innovation in the orthopedic field to new heights, creating more opportunities for the high-quality development of orthopedics in China! We also look forward to collaborating with more industry, academia, research, and medical partners in the future, achieving deep integration and top-to-bottom synergy, truly bridging the last mile from ‘having’ innovative outcomes to ‘using’ them."