Pioneering New Frontiers: FTC 2021 'New Perspectives, New Approaches' Cardiovascular Technology Innovation Case Competition Opens for Submissions

Throughout the long history of human surgery, cardiac surgery remained the last uncharted frontier. It was a taboo subject, yet also the body’s vital power source. While people held it in sacred reverence, countless lives were lost in that era due to the inability to effectively address cardiac conditions.

In 1929, 25-year-old Werner Forssmann inserted a catheter into his own heart. He injected a contrast agent through the catheter and recorded the first cardiac catheterization X-ray image in human history. At the time of this experiment, he was merely a surgical intern; yet it was this young man, daring to dream and bold in practicing innovation, who performed the first-ever experimental cardiac catheterization in history.

In the mid-20th century, at the vascular laboratory of Oregon Hospital in the United States, American radiologist Dotter and his colleagues observed during transfemoral angiography that the contrast catheter passed through an iliac artery that was nearly completely occluded. This unexpected coincidence inspired his bold concept, leading to the advent of angioplasty.

The history of cardiac surgery spans barely a century. With technological advancements, continuously innovative medical devices and materials have become tools for exploring new frontiers in cardiology. Physicians have created another world, ensuring that the heart is no longer an isolated island. The revolution in the cardiovascular field has never ceased, and this progress relies on physicians who dare to unleash their imagination and boldly venture into uncharted territories, pioneering new domains with fresh perspectives and innovative approaches.

To promote technological innovation and development in cardiac surgery, encourage physicians to engage in bold innovative practices, leverage the strengths of the entire industry chain, and better serve patients with heart disease, the Cardiac Surgery Professional Committee of the China Medical Education Association, the Cardiac Surgery Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering, and VCBeat have jointly launched the “Cardiovascular Technology Innovation Case Call: New Perspectives, New Approaches.” This initiative widely solicits outstanding projects from medical institutions at all levels, medical device companies, healthcare service providers, and specialized colleges and universities within the cardiovascular field. It aims to conduct in-depth analyses of the methodologies, pathways, and outcomes associated with these cases, and to summarize best practices. By facilitating direct dialogue among clinicians, industry partners, and investors, the initiative seeks to break down traditional barriers to the translation of scientific achievements, establish close collaborations, and accelerate the industrialization of high-quality research outcomes.

An editorial and review committee composed of industry experts was invited to conduct a multi-dimensional evaluation of the preliminarily screened submitted cases, assessing aspects such as product/service introduction, business model, technological innovation, and case outcomes.

Submit case studies focusing on innovations in cutting-edge technologies, devices, or materials within the cardiovascular field. The submission should include: Case Summary, Problem Addressed, Data Highlights, Key Technologies, Outcomes and Impact, and Next Steps.

Empowering from Three Key Angles to Facilitate the Translation of Cardiovascular Technology Innovation Cases