Strategic Partnership Ceremony Between West China Hospital Vascular Surgery and Medtronic Successfully Held: 'Joining Forces to Build the Future of Vascular Care'

The friendship of cooperation began in the early twentieth century. At that time, minimally invasive treatment for vascular surgery in China was just emerging. Medtronic introduced globally advanced endovascular technologies and products into China, while the Vascular Surgery Department of West China Hospital, with its keen academic insight and solid clinical foundation, became a core force in the implementation, validation, and promotion of these innovative technologies in China.

Reviewing the twenty years of collaboration between Huaxi Hospital and Medtronic, both parties have always shared the common mission of promoting the innovative development of China's vascular surgery. From serving as the primary research institution for the pre-market clinical trial of IN.PACT, laying the evidence-based foundation for the introduction of IN.PACT DCB in China, toProfessor Zhao Jichun andProfessor Huang Bin's TeamBroadcasting live surgeries on international top academic stages like LINC, showcasing "Chinese solutions" to the world; from the early co-establishment of the "West China Hospital-Medtronic University Vascular Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Training Base" to annually collaborating on practical surgical training covering thousands of doctors across China, continuously promoting innovative technical therapies—this partnership has spanned the golden twenty years of rapid development in China's vascular surgery field.

Professor Jichun ZhaoIn his speech, he emotionally reviewed: "Twenty years is a long journey. Over the years, Medtronic has continuously brought us innovative devices, advanced technologies, and new treatment solutions, benefiting numerous patients. We look forward to further deepening our cooperation in the future by introducing more innovative instruments and treatment technologies to jointly benefit more patients."

Mr. David MoellerInspired to say: "Medtronic and West China Hospital have a long history of collaboration. We thank Professor Zhao's team for their support and trust over the years. Medtronic highly values its partnership with Chinese collaborators. Medical technology innovation cannot happen without the close cooperation between engineers and clinicians. It is precisely this integration of medical and engineering teamwork that enables innovative technologies to be transformed into standard treatments, benefiting countless patients."

As a top vascular surgery center in China and a leading one in the western region, the development of Huaxi Hospital's Vascular Surgery Department is a microcosm of the construction of China's vascular surgery discipline. The department, under the leadership of the head of the discipline,Professor Jichun Zhaoand Department DirectorProfessor Huang BinUnder the leadership, a technical system with the distinctive feature of "equal emphasis on open surgery and endovascular treatment" has been formed. The diagnostic and treatment levels in the fields of complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms/dissections, retroperitoneal tumors involving large blood vessels, lower limb arterial diseases, and the establishment and maintenance of hemodialysis access are among the top in China. At the same time, the department has led or participated in dozens of national-level and global multi-center clinical studies, continuously accumulating the "West China Experience" and leading the "China Solution" to the world.

Professor Huang BinWhen introducing the development of the department, it was particularly emphasized: "The rapid development of the Vascular Surgery Department at West China Hospital is inseparable from continuous technological innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and in-depth industry-university-research cooperation. The twenty years of cooperation with Medtronic have been the critical two decades during which Chinese vascular surgery has transitioned from traditional to minimally invasive approaches and moved from technology introduction toward innovation. Looking ahead, we hope to further deepen our cooperation based on current achievements, jointly exploring more innovative technologies and solutions that will not only benefit patients in China but also contribute to the global vascular health cause."

Twenty years of standing shoulder to shoulder, our original aspiration remains steadfast; on the new journey, we move forward hand in hand, our mission unchanged.

This signing not only affirms the successful cooperation of the past twenty years but also marks a new starting point for the future. As the ceremony concluded,Professor Huang BinIt is anticipated that, with the new opportunity brought by this deepened cooperation, both parties will continue to be driven by innovation and patient-centered, jointly writing a new chapter that benefits China and influences the world.