From Novice to Digital Operating Suite Specialist: Dasin Jiuxin Serves Over 350 Hospitals and 5,000+ Operating Rooms
Hospitals are the core institutions of the healthcare industry, and operating rooms are the core departments of hospitals, undertaking the daily heavy and complex surgical tasks. With the continuous deepening of healthcare reform, hospital informatization has become a key direction of development in healthcare reform. Operating rooms have also evolved from traditional construction models to digital construction models.
Figure: Tang Xufeng, General Manager of Dasjiuxin Digital Healthcare (Photo provided by the company)
According to VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat), Jiangsu Dasu Jiuxin Digital Medical Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Das Intellitech, is a high-tech enterprise specializing in comprehensive smart operating room solutions for hospitals, with extensive experience in project design and implementation within the industry. So, what are the differences between modern digital operating rooms and traditional ones? What is their significance? To address these questions, we conducted an exclusive interview with Tang Xufeng, General Manager of Dasu Jiuxin Digital Medical, to gain insights into their technological innovations and functional highlights in the construction of digital operating rooms.
Tang Xufeng believes that in the next 5-8 years, digital operating rooms—leveraging technologies such as informatization, digitization, intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to manage operating suites and streamline medical workflows—will emerge in large numbers across tertiary hospitals.
The predecessor of Dashijiuxin, Jiuxin Medical, was founded in 1992. After more than 20 years of development, Jiuxin has become a leading domestic provider of integrated digital clean operating room solutions.
In May 2015, Das Intellitech acquired Jiuxin Medical as a wholly-owned subsidiary. This merger and restructuring created a synergistic effect where the combined value exceeded the sum of its parts (1+1>2). Following the completion of the restructuring, Das Intellitech rapidly entered the fields of specialized medical purification system construction and digital operating rooms, thereby positioning itself within the smart healthcare industry chain. Leveraging the advantageous resources of Das Intellitech, Das Jiuxin is able to provide hospitals with integrated design and construction solutions.
Currently, Dasheng Jiuxin focuses on the research and development as well as industrialization of digital operating rooms. Its product portfolio covers multiple areas, including supporting equipment for hospital clean operating rooms, digital operating rooms, medical track-based logistics systems, and medical tote-based logistics systems within hospital facilities.
Dashi Jiuxin also boasts a team of highly professional management and technical experts with extensive practical experience, with its marketing and after-sales service network covering the entire country. The company has successively obtained certifications for the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, and ISO 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System. It has also secured more than 50 patents and intellectual property rights, including invention patents, design patents, utility model patents, and computer software copyrights.
To date, Dashijiuxin has constructed over 5,000 high-standard clean operating rooms and ICU wards for more than 350 hospitals, including over 200 Grade III Class A hospitals such as Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital), the former Beijing Hospital of the Ministry of Health, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Huashan Hospital Shanghai, Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
Generally, operating rooms are characterized by concentrated resources, complexity, and highly standardized equipment, necessitating real-time management. Previously, hospitals did not prioritize the digitalization, informatization, and intelligent transformation of operating rooms. Consequently, the effective integration of hospital integration platforms, information centers, Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), and Hospital Information Systems (HIS) faced challenges such as lack of interoperability, ineffective management, and inability to improve efficiency and safety.
“We are committed to helping hospitals address their challenges by providing holistic digital operating room solutions. However, R&D is demanding, as we must overcome a lengthy product development pipeline,” Tang Xufeng admitted candidly.
In his view, the key highlights of a smart or data-driven operating room should include integrated holistic design, customized spatial solutions, controllable intraoperative equipment, rapid image retrieval, high-definition image display, fully embedded installation, professional software assistance, precise lesion localization, specialty-oriented design, alignment with departmental needs, and ease of cleaning and maintenance.
Dashi Jiuxin’s Smart Operating Room Department features prominent characteristics such as digitalization, integration, multi-functionality, and intelligence:
1. Digitalization.Leveraging digital technologies, including information infrastructure platforms, RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification), barcode technology, and medical sensor technology, to enable identification and intelligent recognition of patients, healthcare providers, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.
2. Integration.By integrating operating room equipment, patient information resources, and resources from various hospital departments, the former “information silos” have been transformed into a ubiquitous information hub. Under an integrated framework, patient-related information is optimally consolidated, laying the foundation for delivering efficient surgical services.
3. Composite type.In line with the trend toward precision surgery, advancements in imaging technology—through true integration with large-scale medical imaging equipment such as DSA, MRI, and CT—enable surgeons to determine optimal surgical pathways and monitor dynamic intraoperative imaging changes, thereby enhancing surgical accuracy and success rates.
4. Intelligence.Intelligent systems must be practically implemented. Practical technologies, including cutting-edge solutions such as facial recognition and clinical data analytics, can provide tangible benefits to healthcare. We emphasize that intelligence in healthcare should be grounded in real-world application rather than remaining a vague concept.
The specific architecture should include: an integrated platform built upon infrastructure such as interior decoration, HVAC, medical gases, high- and low-voltage electrical systems, and water supply and drainage. This platform must provide unified interface pathways to interact with hospital information systems, enabling true interoperability and fully automated assistance. The system specifically comprises the Precision Surgery 3D Diagnosis and Treatment System, the Intelligent Operating Room Environmental Monitoring System, the Intelligent Behavior Management System for the Surgical Department, the Anesthesia Clinical Information System, the Controlled Substance Management System for the Surgical Department, and the Surgical Teaching and Consultation System.
Operating room procedures are complex and rigorous, requiring compliance with cleanliness standards first, followed by adherence to medical protocols.
Currently, there are no unified standards or consensus in China regarding digital operating rooms, leading to hesitation among major hospitals about whether to undertake renovations. While large and medium-sized hospitals demonstrate high recognition and acceptance of digital operating rooms, the extent of implementation varies across institutions. Some have established one digital operating room, others two to three, but it is rare for an entire surgical department to be fully digitized.
Generally, it is relatively straightforward to establish a digital operating room department in a newly built hospital, with a construction cycle of approximately 3–6 months. This allows for comprehensive design of overall information management, workflow management, operational management, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, and floor plan layout within the operating room department.
Currently, hospitals seeking to build digital operating rooms are primarily concentrated in first- and second-tier cities, with relatively fewer in third- and fourth-tier cities. The main customer base consists of Grade 3A hospitals and a subset of Grade 2A hospitals with stronger overall revenue. As informatization initiatives deepen, hospitals in third- and fourth-tier cities are increasingly adopting digital operating rooms year by year, indicating significant market potential.
Taking the digital operating rooms at Suzhou Municipal Hospital as an example, this initiative is based on the new district mechatronics project signed between Das Intellitech and Suzhou Municipal Hospital. Our primary focus is on digital operating rooms, where we implement comprehensive foundational information systems, application displays, imaging solutions, nurse workstations, and business management for the entire surgical department. This includes surgical scheduling, fee announcements, anesthesia nursing, and full-process digital management of all operational workflows within the surgical department. We have even implemented an automated medication control system.
In other words, from the moment personnel enter for this surgery, changing clothes and shoes requires card access. Unauthorized individuals who are not part of the surgical team cannot enter the operating room.
Tang Xufeng has been deeply engaged in the field of digital operating rooms for many years. During this period, he has observed tremendous changes taking place within the industry. The most notable changes are fourfold:
First, in recent years, the hospital's Information Technology Department has emerged as the leading department for digital operating room construction projects, wielding increasingly significant decision-making authority and influence.
Second, as hospital departments and units gain a deeper understanding of the functions and configurations of digital operating rooms, the conceptual standards for “digital operating rooms” are becoming increasingly clear. Industry standards covering basic infrastructure, foundational data, information integration, and functional applications are being accelerated in their development.
Third, there is a growing number of large-scale construction projects represented by the development of holistic smart operating room departments and multiple digital operating rooms;
Fourth, dedicated forums on digital operating rooms have been established at many national health informatics conferences to specifically discuss new technologies and solutions for digitalization.
Tang Xufeng further stated that the construction of a smart operating room department is not an overnight endeavor; it requires comprehensive planning and consideration, integrating basic functional components with advanced features, as they serve distinct purposes.
1. Basic Functions and Functionalities of the Surgical Department
Basic Functional Modules, including the Digital Integrated Platform System, Basic Surgical Teaching and Consultation System, Perioperative Anesthesia Clinical Information System, Surgical Electronic Bulletin Information System, Real-time Operating Room Environmental Monitoring System, and Intelligent Operating Room Environment Management System.
Digital Integrated Platform SystemThe digital integrated platform system enables modular design and digital cabling during the construction of the operating room department, along with equipment data acquisition, multimedia control and management, and seamless integration with information systems, including embedded nursing informatics workstations and professional medical-grade displays. Furthermore, this platform system can be configured on demand and pre-deployed in coordination with operating room construction, ensuring operational readiness while facilitating future expansion and upgrades.
The Clinical Information System for Surgical Anesthesia manages the entire workflow within a single platform, starting from surgical requests and encompassing operating room scheduling, quality control, documentation, billing, anesthesia procedures, and medication administration. This integrated approach is designed to address the heavy workload of physicians while comprehensively ensuring safety, quality, and efficacy. Without such a system, true intelligence cannot be achieved, as a smart operating department requires data fusion, holistic integration, and structured analysis.
Real-Time Environmental Monitoring System for Operating Rooms: Enabling Dynamic Management and Real-Time Assurance for Visible Cleanliness. For instance, if the cleanliness index of an operating room exceeds the threshold, a wall-mounted light triggers an alarm. This internet-enabled feature is also a mandatory requirement for clean operating rooms, necessitating robust control capabilities.
2. Leading Features and Functions of the Operating Room Department
The leading features include the digital operating room system, mobile HD teaching and consultation system, intelligent operating room monitoring and management system, intelligent behavior management system for the surgical department, intelligent controlled substance management system, and 3D imaging-assisted diagnosis and treatment system. Given the precious time of surgeons in the operating room, facial recognition and intelligent voice recognition have been applied to personnel control and workflow optimization, offering significant convenience.
Digital Operating Room System. Operating room equipment must be integrated to ensure safety and efficiency, encompassing everything from doors and windows to HVAC systems, environmental control units, and medical devices, thereby forming a centralized integrated control system. Furthermore, the digital operating room can serve as an academic exchange platform, facilitating education, teaching, and academic sharing. Surgical guidance is no longer limited to voice-based instructions but leverages virtual reality technology for real-time guidance.
Image integration and information integration are easier said than done, as they entail many requirements that are relatively demanding. The da Vinci surgical robot can also facilitate digital surgery, enabling precise and clear localization of lesions, comprehensive, three-dimensional, and intuitive visualization of the patient’s surgical site, and providing accurate intraoperative assistance. The digital voice recognition control system allows surgeons to use voice commands during operations to direct the digital operating room system to perform functions such as recording surgical videos, saving images, switching medical image sources, retrieving patient information, and interacting with teleconsultation centers.
Mobile HD Teaching and Consultation System: Advanced Instruction, Not Just Simple Transmission. Featuring portability, synchronized recording, and bidirectional interaction. Full SDI high-definition transmission perfectly restores the live scene; compatible with hospital information systems for flexible access to device imagery, real-time annotation and explanation, robust post-production editing, and automatic recognition and masking of private areas. It minimizes the number of observers entering the operating room, controls personnel flow, and ensures a sterile surgical environment.
AR-Enhanced Real-Time Surgical GuidanceAR-enhanced surgical guidance is not limited to the current single-mode voice-based instructions; rather, it provides real-time guidance based on virtual reality technology. While the integration of imaging and information may sound straightforward, it entails numerous tasks with relatively high technical requirements. Tang Xufeng cited an example: during a surgery being performed in Beijing, the imaging data is transmitted to my screen. When I point my finger at the lesion on my display, my finger is synchronously visible on the monitor in the Beijing operating room. The surgeons can see in real time exactly where to make the incision or follow a line I draw, as if we were in the same room. This constitutes real-time surgical guidance.
The Intelligent Operating Room Environment Management System can display the operational status of each operating room in real time and in an intuitive manner, thereby enabling centralized control over all operating rooms. It provides real-time monitoring of overall energy consumption, environmental analysis, and status alarms—including basic operational statuses—and features graphical historical data visualization, facilitating comprehensive and holistic management.
By leveraging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless positioning to structurally optimize workflows, the system primarily manages the entry and exit of personnel, medications, instruments, and equipment in the operating room. It enables standardized management of personnel behavior; automated dispensing and collection of surgical attire, shoes, and hats; and tracking and positioning of large-scale equipment and high-value consumables, thereby achieving a comprehensive, traceable, and closed-loop management system for the entire process within the sterile zone of the operating room.
Controlled substances in the operating room constitute a critical component of perioperative care. Historically, management protocols for these agents have been lax in many hospitals. The Dasu Jiuxin system is fully integrated with the Operating Room Perioperative Information Management System, enabling end-to-end control over the use of controlled substances from the point of origin, with zero tolerance for procedural deviations. For instance, in many Chinese hospitals, syringes are often pre-filled from vials without clear labeling, making it difficult to identify specific medications once prepared. The Dasu Jiuxin system addresses this by enforcing strict label-based controls. It also guides proper medication administration, including determining whether dilution is required, through systematic digital workflows.
In terms of imaging, we employ a 3D imaging diagnosis and treatment assistance system that leverages advanced processing software and VR (Virtual Reality) systems to achieve precise preoperative planning and assessment. Furthermore, based on AR (Augmented Reality) systems, we provide real-time intraoperative guidance and remote surgical assistance. Our solutions support preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation products for seven major clinical departments: Hepatobiliary Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Neurosurgery, Cardiac Surgery, Orthopedics, and General Surgery. We are developing specialized models and applications for precision surgery tailored to each specialty, a field that is becoming increasingly refined and widely adopted.
Tang Xufeng predicts that hybrid operating rooms represent a critical direction and trend. Complex surgeries require assistance through information technology and digitalization to improve success rates, outcomes, and safety. The gradual transformation of operating rooms into digital operating rooms is an irreversible trend.