Aitingbei: Pioneering Smart Home Medical Devices for Maternal and Neonatal Care
Empowered by emerging technologies such as the internet, big data, and cloud computing, medical devices are becoming increasingly intelligent and convenient, gradually making their way into households everywhere.
Distinct from traditional medical devices used in hospitals, smart home-use medical devices are characterized by their ease of operation and compact size, leveraging artificial intelligence technology to meet the growing demand for health management. Driven by multiple factors—including policy support, heightened public health awareness, shifts in consumption patterns, and the continuous improvement of the tiered healthcare system—talent and capital are flocking to the sector, making the industry landscape exceptionally vibrant.
According to Frost & Sullivan, the global market size for home medical devices grew from USD 19.2 billion (approximately RMB 134.1 billion at current exchange rates) in 2011 to USD 26.2 billion (approximately RMB 183.0 billion at current exchange rates) in 2016, with a growth rate consistently maintained between 5% and 8%. Meanwhile, China’s home medical device market has expanded rapidly at a pace exceeding the global average, with its market size increasing from RMB 13.77 billion in 2010 to RMB 51.13 billion in 2016.
On the other hand, according to Wind data, while home medical devices account for 40% of the market in Europe and the United States, their production value in China currently represents only 13.8% of the entire medical device industry. This indicates that there is still substantial room for growth in China’s home medical device sector. However, traditional categories such as blood glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, and massage devices have already become highly competitive “red ocean” markets. Consequently, new entrants are focusing on identifying and capturing emerging “blue ocean” opportunities.
In this context, Guangzhou Aitingbei Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Aitingbei”), which focuses on the field of maternal and neonatal care and is committed to the systematic research and development of related intelligent home-use medical devices, was established in February 2017.
Leveraging his years of experience in equipment R&D and international market operations at Guangzhou Sanrui Medical Device Co., Ltd., Song Liguo, Founder and CEO of Aitingbei, has not only accumulated extensive resources and professional networks in the field of obstetrics and gynecology medical devices, but also gained profound insights into the cutting-edge development trends of the current healthcare industry through overseas market expansion and visits to international hospitals.
“In developed countries in Europe and the United States, the penetration rate of home-use medical devices is very high. A similar trend is now evident in China, where devices such as blood pressure monitors and thermometers are basically equipped in every household,” said Mr. Song Liguo, General Manager. “However, in the field of maternal and infant health, which is crucial to the nation’s population health, China lacks companies dedicated to the systematic research and development of medical products covering the critical ‘first 1,000 days’ from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday. The potential market in this sector is actually enormous, so we believe it presents a significant opportunity.”
With the implementation of the two-child policy, the market for pregnant women and newborns in China boasts broad prospects. According to data from Ipsos and Babytree, the size of China’s maternal and infant market grew from RMB 1.2 trillion in 2012 to RMB 2.6 trillion in 2017, and is projected to reach RMB 3 trillion in 2018. Meanwhile, expectant mothers demonstrate a strong willingness to spend on high-end products that offer greater comfort, convenience, and professionalism; 63% of surveyed expectant mothers reported having purchased or planning to purchase such items, with those in first-tier cities showing the strongest intent at 69%.
After identifying market demand, Song Liguo joined forces with professionals possessing extensive R&D experience in obstetrics and gynecology medical devices, as well as computer science and artificial intelligence experts from universities, to co-found Aitingbei Technology Co., Ltd., venturing together into this new blue ocean. However, the initial phase was not smooth; affected by the capital market winter, Aitingbei nearly failed to survive the financial difficulties. Fortunately, during this critical period, Song Liguo received assistance from a Chinese-American familiar with the field, securing over 2 million yuan in angel funding. This not only resolved immediate challenges but also helped propel the company into its next stage of development.
As a smart home medical device company focused on the maternal and infant sector, Aitingbei has structured its product portfolio around its core “1,000 Days” strategy. It has already launched two self-developed products: the Tingbeibei fetal heart sound monitor for newborns, and a pioneering soothing sleep aid capable of playing restored intrauterine ambient sounds.
When discussing the company’s flagship product, the fetal heart sound monitor, Song Liguo told VCBeat, “After reaching 28 weeks of gestation, a fetus can already recognize and remember sounds. In the mother’s womb, only the maternal heartbeat is both familiar and regular, so the baby essentially memorizes this sound.” Against this backdrop, Ai Ting Bei uses the heart sound monitor to record the expectant mother’s heartbeat. By combining this with customized heart-sound services and supporting smart sleep-soothing devices, it creates a familiar, womb-like auditory environment for newborns, thereby helping to soothe and lull them to sleep.
However, Ai Ting Bei’s ambitions extend beyond this; a key focus for the company’s future development is to upgrade and develop medical devices designed to promote hearing development in premature infants, building upon its existing product portfolio.
“In fact, the role of intrauterine ambient sounds extends far beyond merely soothing and lulling infants to sleep. Preterm infants are often born before their auditory systems have fully developed. When placed in incubators, they are exposed to a variety of noises that differ markedly from the central acoustic environment of the maternal uterus,” said Song Liguo. “Research by a Harvard University professor has demonstrated that playing recordings of the mother’s heartbeat and voice for preterm infants can promote the development of the auditory-related cerebral cortex. Based on this theory, we are working to translate these findings into more clinically valuable and specialized products designed specifically for preterm infants.”
Song Liguo candidly stated that the market potential in the niche segment of preterm infants is vast. According to data from the World Health Organization, there are 15 million preterm births globally each year, with China ranking second worldwide in the number of preterm infants—a figure that continues to rise. Meanwhile, no products targeting this specific area have yet been launched on the market; once introduced, the product’s future market size is expected to reach at least 500,000 units.
Meanwhile, Aitingbei is also leveraging artificial intelligence to develop products for the monitoring and prediction of preterm birth. Song Liguo stated that many expectant mothers experience heightened anxiety in the week leading up to their due date, including those pregnant with their second child. The product currently under development will analyze uterine electromyography (uEMG) indicators affecting uterine contractions to assess and monitor the onset of labor, thereby alerting expectant mothers and enabling them to plan for hospital admission in advance.
He added, “Implementing monitoring is the first step. In the future, we hope to further leverage artificial intelligence to predict the onset of labor 24 or even 48 hours in advance, thereby alleviating expectant mothers’ anxiety.”
It is understood that Aitingbei has currently established strategic partnerships with Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, and Jinan University Overseas Chinese Hospital. Additionally, it has formed project-based collaborations with hospital experts to provide recommendations and support for product research and development.
The development of technology companies hinges on the protective barriers established by their patent portfolios. To date, Aitingbei has had 22 patent applications accepted, including 13 invention patents, 3 utility model patents, and 6 design patents. Beyond this, Song Liguo believes that another core competitive advantage of the company lies in its small yet highly specialized internal team. “In addition to my own expertise in the internationalization, management, and financing of medical devices, our other partners are top-tier talents in the full lifecycle of medical device R&D and in regulatory policy. Our team currently consists of nine members, and we look forward to welcoming more operational professionals to join us in shaping the company’s future.”
Meanwhile, Song Liguo disclosed to VCBeat that the company’s revenue for 2019 is projected to exceed RMB 1 million. Currently, its profitability model relies primarily on the sales of smart hardware, with plans to expand in the future to a model combining hardware sales with platform services. At the end of this month, the company intends to launch a Pre-A financing round targeting RMB 10 million, which will be used to advance product development and support corporate operations.
According to available data, AiTingBei planned that, after five years of development, its user base would exceed 5 million and its annual revenue would surpass RMB 180 million by 2023. “Our short-term objectives are very clear: to deliver, as scheduled within 1,000 days, smart home medical devices for the maternal and infant sector. This also requires us to significantly expand our user base over the next five years, because only through actual use can we obtain more feedback and requirements, enabling us to continuously improve and refine our products,” said Song Liguo.
“Looking further ahead, we hope to incorporate more intelligent services and even achieve automated integration with hospitals, so that patients do not need to visit the hospital each time but can receive physician diagnoses and related guidance through our platform from home.”