Medtronic Showcases Global Innovation and 'Made-in-China' Solutions at 2026 China Medical Equipment Fair

Source: Device Home

On March 26, 2026, the Chongqing International Expo Center was bustling with activity as the 2026 Medical Equipment Conference and Medical Equipment Exhibition officially opened.器械之家 (Instrument Family) promptly visited the Medtronic booth — this global medical technology giant that has participated in the event for five consecutive years. Under the theme of "Co-creating the Future of Medical Technology," Medtronic showcased over a hundred innovative products and solutions covering fields such as cardiovascular, neuroscience, surgery, and more. Additionally, they hosted the high-quality development seminar on stroke prevention and treatment titled "Integrated Heart-Brain Protection, Intelligent Stroke Healing," which was packed with valuable insights, leaving attendees overwhelmed with information.

On site, we not only gained a close-up understanding of Medtronic's key exhibits but also had an in-depth exchange with Lin Song, Vice President of Medtronic's Cardiac Rhythm Management, Cardiac Surgery, and Cardiac Ablation Business in China, as well as the head of the shared functional department for Medtronic’s Cardiovascular Business in China. We truly felt the company’s original aspiration and strength in deeply cultivating China and empowering clinical practices.

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Key Exhibits Tested: Global Technology Empowers, Local Innovation Leads the Way

Cardiac Business: Global Innovation and Local Manufacturing Advance in Tandem

In 1957, Medtronic founder Earl Bakken developed the world's first battery-powered portable pacemaker to address the risk of power outages, establishing the company's leading position in the field of cardiac rhythm management. The pacemaker remains the most central highlight of this exhibition booth. At this year’s exhibition, Medtronic unveiled its next-generation leadless pacemaker technology represented by the Micra™ AV2 & VR2 Transcatheter Leadless Pacemaker Systems, which set a new standard for clinical experience with their ultra-compact design and extended battery life. Meanwhile, the company also showcased the locally manufactured NuPace™ series pacemakers, reflecting a comprehensive strategy from global leadership to local implementation in China.

• Micra™ AV2 & VR2 Transcatheter Leadless Pacemaker System: Capsule-Sized, Longer-Lasting Heart Protection

At first glance of this pacemaker, we were amazed by its small size — about the size of a capsule, only one-tenth the volume of a traditional pacemaker, and weighing just 1.75g. According to the on-site staff, this is the second-generation upgrade of the world’s smallest heart pacemaker. Compared with the previous generation, its battery life has been extended by approximately 40%. Specifically, the Micra™ AV2 lasts up to around 16 years, and the Micra™ VR2 up to about 17 years. This means that over 80% of patients may only need one implant for their lifetime, significantly reducing the pain and burden of secondary surgeries.

Moreover, this leadless pacemaker requires no leads or pockets, not only effectively reducing the risk of complications but also being compatible with full-body MRI scans, addressing concerns for traditional pacemaker patients needing MRI examinations. Micra™ AV2 is also equipped with advanced algorithms and motion sensors that automatically program AV synchronization and precisely adjust the rhythm between the upper and lower heart chambers. For users with higher activity levels, its maximum heart rate increases from 115 beats per minute to 135, catering to a broader range of needs.

Medtronic's technical accumulation in the pacing field is fully reflected in this product. It is reported that this pacemaker has been widely used in China, and has even successfully completed an implantation for a 7-year-old girl, breaking the world precedent of leadless pacemaker implantation in young patients, allowing more patients to benefit from this cutting-edge technology.

• Medtronic NuPace™ Series Implantable Cardiac Pacemakers: Made in China, Redefining the Quality of Chinese-Produced Pacemakers

As a model of Medtronic's local manufacturing in China, the Micra NuPace™ series of implantable cardiac pacemakers has drawn particular attention. This year marks the 37th year of Medtronic's presence in China. The product, independently developed and manufactured at the Medtronic Lingang Medical Technology Industrial Base, has just received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and is about to be officially introduced into clinical use.

This series includes two products: BP1DR (dual-chamber) and BP1SR (single-chamber), both of which are compatible with 1.5T/3T MRI, suitable for Medtronic's Surescan® leads and Maiam leads. Their expected service life is up to 16.3 years and 19 years respectively, far exceeding the industry average. Notably, BP1DR is equipped with AT/AF full-cycle intelligent monitoring and intervention technology. Clinical data shows that it can reduce the incidence of permanent atrial fibrillation by 61%, precisely addressing clinical pain points. On-site staff stated that this pacemaker inherits Medtronic's world-class technology and is optimized according to the clinical needs of Chinese patients. From R&D to production, the entire process has been localized in China. It is not only reliable in quality but also capable of quickly responding to the demands of the domestic medical market, redefining the new height of quality for pacemakers produced in China.

Medtronic Greater China Vice President of Cardiac Rhythm Management, Cardiac Surgery and Cardiac Ablation Business and Head of Shared Functional Department of Cardiovascular Business Portfolio in China, Lin Song, further introduced that the pacemaker treatment in China has achieved remarkable results in the past 12 years, with the number of implants per million people increasing from 40-50 to 130-140. However, there is still a gap between us and Europe and America, and a large number of patients have not been able to receive effective treatment in time. To this end, Medtronic collaborated with the Shanghai Lingang Administrative Committee and the Lingang Group five years ago to invest in and build a pacemaker production base. Lin Song proudly stated that the Lingang base took less than five years from construction to product launch, setting an unimaginable "China speed" for Europe and America.

Currently, the Lingang base has successfully achieved the localized production of pacemakers. More promising is that Medtronic will also advance local research and development, incubation, and other initiatives. Lin Song revealed that Medtronic has already moved its servers to China, enabling the establishment of a complete closed-loop ecosystem for R&D, production, after-sales, and services, allowing Chinese patients to enjoy the most professional localized services. Medtronic has also decided this year to move defibrillator production to Lingang. In the future, it will increase investment and collaborate with local clinical and research forces to accelerate the clinical implementation of local R&D.

Multiple Fields Make Joint Efforts, Demonstrating Hard Power in Scientific Innovation

Beyond the cardiac field, Medtronic also shines in intraoperative navigation, perioperative monitoring, and surgical energy sectors. Multiple innovative technologies are showcased collectively, addressing clinical needs across various scenarios.

• Flex ENT™ Electromagnetic Navigation for ENT: Breaking Surgical Barriers, Ensuring Safe Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
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The anatomical structure of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery is extremely complex, especially in areas such as the nasal-cranial base and nasal-orbital regions, which are densely populated with blood vessels and nerves, posing extremely high risks. However, the StealthStation Flex ENT™, an electromagnetic navigation system for otolaryngology developed by Medtronic, provides doctors with precise guidance, completely transforming this situation.

In the on-site simulation demonstration, I saw that this system can pre-calculate the navigation accuracy inside the sinuses and the skull base, helping doctors optimize surgical strategies before the operation. During the surgery, it enhances visualization, clearly presenting the important tissue structures around the lesion, allowing doctors to operate precisely through the labyrinthine channels of the ear, nose, and throat, effectively reducing major complications. Its two core advantages are highly prominent: first, precise navigation registration accuracy, making the surgery safer; second, comprehensive preoperative planning functions, giving doctors more confidence. For patients with chronic sinusitis and other diseases, the application of this system means safer surgeries and more guaranteed outcomes, enabling more complex endoscopic sinus surgeries to be carried out smoothly.

• INVOS™7100: Non-invasive Early Warning, Safeguarding Perioperative Organ Safety

As a new generation non-invasive cerebral and regional tissue oxygen saturation monitoring platform, the INVOS™ 7100 Cerebral and Regional Tissue Oximetry Monitor provides real-time, continuous monitoring of cerebral and regional tissue oxygenation, offering precise "early warning" for perioperative cerebral hypoxia events. Compared with traditional monitoring indicators such as blood pressure and heart rate, this device can provide early alerts when there is a decrease in oxygen supply to the brain or local tissues, giving anesthesiologists and surgeons a valuable time window for intervention to help avoid or reduce organ damage.

A large number of clinical studies have fully confirmed its clinical value: In specific high-risk surgeries, using the INVOS™ system for goal-directed therapy (i.e., immediate intervention once the rSO2 index drops) can significantly reduce the incidence of serious postoperative complications such as stroke, acute kidney injury, and delirium. At the same time, it effectively shortens ICU stay, enhancing surgical safety and optimizing patient outcomes, becoming an important aid in the field of perioperative monitoring.

• NIM-ECLIPSE™ Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring System: Made in China Goes Global, Reducing the Risk of Nerve Injury, Safeguarding Surgical Safety
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Similarly, the NIM-ECLIPSE™ Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring System, "Made in China," is a renewed masterpiece of Medtronic's 35 years of dedication to the field of neurophysiological monitoring and a model of "Made in China" going global—having currently passed Japan's PMDA certification and CE certification, successfully entering the Japanese market, and soon to be introduced in South Korea, Singapore, and Bangladesh.

This neurophysiological monitoring system has undergone comprehensive software and hardware upgrades based on clinical needs in China. It is widely used in surgical procedures facing the risk of nerve injury, such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, and vascular surgery. Its unique dual-system architecture enables real-time automatic monitoring of neurological functions during surgery and provides intelligent alerts. It can also intelligently preset the latest recommended parameters. With zero signal attenuation, the monitoring is more precise. Additionally, it is compatible with Medtronic navigation and power equipment, enabling a digital and intelligent integrated surgical solution. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring can, to a certain extent, prevent postoperative functional impairment caused by nerve damage during surgery, providing high-risk patients with the opportunity for surgical treatment and significantly improving patient outcomes. This locally developed product will offer more reliable safety assurance for complex surgeries in China.

• LigaSure™ Series High-Frequency Sealing and Cutting Blades: 27 Years of Expertise, a Surgeon's Trusted Assistant

In the surgical exhibition area, the LigaSure™ series of high-frequency sealing and cutting blades remains highly popular. As the most successful large vessel sealer currently on the market, it has served over 35 million patients worldwide since its launch 27 years ago, becoming a standard instrument for open or endoscopic surgeries across multiple departments including thoracic surgery, general surgery, gynecology, and urology.

The on-site staff demonstrated its working principle to me: it generates a thermal effect by conducting high-frequency current through electrodes to the tissue, causing protein denaturation, which achieves cutting and coagulation. It can safely coagulate and close blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and tissue bundles with diameters not exceeding 7mm. Compared with ultrasonic scalpels, its blade temperature is lower, with less lateral thermal damage, making low-temperature coagulation safer and more reliable.

All of this is made possible by the perfect coordination of three core technologies: TissueFect™ Intelligent Tissue Sensing Technology, which detects tissue impedance 434,000 times per second for precise energy output control; LigaSure™ Tissue Fusion Technology, which achieves tissue fusion through high current and low voltage, keeping the blade temperature low, limiting thermal diffusion, and reducing thermal damage; and an optimized jaw mechanical structure design along with an anti-adhesion coating that minimizes eschar formation and tissue sticking, enhancing surgical efficiency.

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Meeting China's Needs, Sharing Global Wisdom

At the scene of this medical equipment conference, Instrument Family had an in-depth dialogue with Lin Song, exchanging views on Medtronic's local innovation and digital intelligence achievements.

Lin Song stated that over the years, while interacting with clinical experts, he has discovered significant differences in body type and disease conditions between Asian patients, especially Chinese patients, and Western patients. Therefore, Medtronic is actively promoting local research and development work in China. He gave an example: the Lantern catheter launched last year was invented by Chinese doctors and matches the left bundle branch pacing technology promoted by Chinese doctors. We are now particularly proud that doctors from Europe, Australia, and the United States come specifically to China to receive training from Chinese doctors and then bring this therapy to the world. Lin Song said that this product was developed in China and produced in China. It is currently supplied globally and represents the most genuine manifestation of "Globalization of Chinese Innovation."

Speaking of the localization layout of digital healthcare, Lin Song shared the latest progress: "Not long ago, we established the Medtronic Digital Healthcare Innovation Base and Medtronic Museum in Beijing."

Lin Song introduced that this base mainly has four functions: one is the museum display function, two is the training function, three is the digital innovation function, and four is the service enhancement through digitization. "Take pacemakers as an example; now our pacemakers can enable patients to receive AI and digital services at home without leaving their houses," Lin Song explained. After a patient is implanted with a pacemaker, they can monitor its working status in real-time at home via a digital remote terminal. This data is transmitted through local servers to the hospital's terminal, allowing doctors to monitor the patient’s condition in real-time and provide feedback.

"If a patient needs treatment, this terminal can send an alert to ensure they return to the hospital in time." In addition, Lin Song also mentioned that Medtronic is developing the My Pacemaker mini-program, allowing patients to independently manage their pacemakers and entire treatment process through AI. "In the future, we will also expand our service scope for patients through AI, and we look forward to the country and government leading the AI wave through innovation in technology and policy, truly benefiting patients."

During this Medical Equipment Exhibition, Medtronic also hosted the "Cardio-Cerebral Prevention and Intelligent Stroke Healing" Stroke Prevention High-Quality Development Seminar, officially launching the initiative for high-quality development of the stroke prevention system. Through the "Cardio-Cerebral Prevention and Intelligent Stroke Healing" seminar, it aims to enhance China’s stroke prevention capabilities and management efficiency. This exhibition exploration has shown us not only Medtronic's cutting-edge medical technology products but also the company’s commitment and responsibility in deepening its presence in China and empowering clinical practices. From the world’s leading leadless pacemakers to locally produced products showcasing Chinese innovation, and further to the "cardio-cerebral co-treatment" solutions aligned with national strategies, Medtronic consistently targets "co-creating the future of medical technology." It continuously brings higher quality and safer medical solutions to Chinese patients while injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development of China’s medical technology.