August 19, 2025, marks the eighth Chinese Doctors' Day, with this year¡¯s theme being ¡°Virtue Embodied in Action, Skill Honed by Diligence.¡± On this significant day, CCTV News Channel spotlighted Professor Wu Weiwei, Vice President of Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital and Director of Vascular Surgery, exploring innovative improvements in hardware and software systems and the design of novel medical devices to bring hope and better care to patients.

Driving Technological Innovation and Implementation through Clinical Needs

Thromboembolism is a potentially fatal condition caused by the formation of blood clots in arteries or veins. Once a thrombus forms, it can slow or block normal blood flow and may even dislodge and migrate to other organs. Thromboembolism leads to severe consequences and is closely associated with the three major killers of cardiovascular diseases: myocardial infarction, stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Globally, one in every four deaths is related to thrombosis.

Primary treatment methods for arterial and venous thrombosis include pharmacological therapy, interventional therapy, and surgical treatment. Interventional therapy often employs aspiration catheters to remove thrombi and other foreign bodies from blood vessels. The aspiration catheter is delivered to the thrombus site, and negative pressure is applied at the proximal end to extract the thrombus and other obstructions through the catheter lumen, thereby restoring blood circulation.

However, current thrombus aspiration devices are ineffective in preventing clogging by thrombi, lack the ability to regulate aspiration states, filter, or collect thrombi during the procedure, and are often associated with complex operational procedures and high risks.

Whaleflow? Peripheral Thrombus Aspiration System£¨Whaleflow? Peripheral Thrombus Aspiration Catheter£¬¹úеע׼20253030243 & Single-Use Thrombus Aspiration Negative Pressure Pump£¬¹úеע׼20253030722£©

Accordingly, Professor Wu Weiwei, Vice President of Beijing Tsinghua Changgeng Hospital at Tsinghua University, led a team of physicians in collaboration with R&D engineers from Mednovo to tackle these challenges. Together, they developed a cyclic mechanical peripheral thrombus aspiration system (Whaleflow? Peripheral Thrombus Aspiration Catheter, ¹úеע׼20253030722), and Whaleflow? Single-Use Thrombus Aspiration Negative Pressure Pump, ¹úеע׼20253030722) designed to "align with the operator¡¯s mindset." This system addresses clinical Challenges through improvements in the aspiration catheter, connecting tube, and negative pressure aspiration pump:

¡ñ the tip design of the aspiration catheter was enhanced to increase contact area with thrombi, while a flow-guiding mechanism was incorporated to reduce clogging. The flexibility and trackability of the catheter were also improved, enabling the modified device to adapt to various clinical scenarios

¡ñ The aspiration pump was upgraded with a sterile design to facilitate easier operation by physicians, visualize blood loss volume, reduce power consumption, and increase negative pressure. Notably, the pump¡¯s mechanical structure was innovatively redesigned to replace traditional static negative pressure with cyclic negative pressure achieved through a roller pump and rear-placed collection canister. This pulsating pressure variation enhances the aspiration of subacute thrombi and minimizes blood loss.

Though small and tiny , medical devices like this embody complex interdisciplinary technologies and the collective intelligence and dedication of physicians and designers. From identifying clinical challenges to translating ideas into tangible solutions, Director Wu Weiwei and the R&D team at Mednovo held 81 progress meetings over 20 months¡ªaveraging one per week¡ªto transform concepts into viable products. The effort resulted in 2 invention patents and 11 utility model patents, all successfully commercialized. The product is set to launch clinically in September, offering promising benefits for patients worldwide.

Whaleflow? Peripheral Thrombus Aspiration System

The Whaleflow? Peripheral Thrombus Aspiration System consists of a Single-Use Thrombus Aspiration Negative Pressure Pump (¹úеע׼20253030722) and a Peripheral Thrombus Aspiration Catheter (¹úеע׼20253030243), which work in tandem to generate negative pressure, providing a suction source for the catheter. Once the catheter is inserted into the blood vessel, the negative pressure rapidly adheres to and aspirates the thrombus, restoring vascular patency.

Product Features

1. Full-Specification Catheters for Precise Adaptation to Complex Vasculature

It advances and retracts the flow-guiding mechanism near the proximal edge of the original occlusion to help clear thrombi at the catheter tip. The device is visible under X-ray fluoroscopy.

2. Fully Independent Intellectual Property Design

¡ñ Equipped with an unblocking/guiding catheter to simplify intraoperative procedures.

¡ñ Retracting the flow-guiding mechanism clears thrombi obstructing the catheter, enabling continuous aspiration.

¡ñ Clearly visible under DSA.

3. Seven-Segment Gradual Stiffness Design

¡ñ Soft distal end to prevent vessel injury.

¡ñ Precise transmission of torque control.

¡ñ Provides radial support and maintains negative pressure transmission without deformation.

¡ñ Hydrophilic coating for enhanced lubricity.

4. Comprehensive Auxiliary Accessories for Flexible and Efficient Operation

The product includes a comprehensive set of auxiliary accessories: core tube, shaping needle, filter, torque device, introducer, introducer sheath, rotating hemostatic valve, and syringe.

5. Fully Sterile Aspiration Pump

¡ñ The entire unit is sterile and ready for use in the operating field, reducing infection risks.

¡ñ One-touch activation with adjustable suction for user-friendly operation.

6. Simple Installation, Operation, and Disassembly

Portable design with compact size and lightweight construction for easy mobility and operation, flexibly adapting to various clinical environments.

7. Pulsatile Aspiration

During operation, the pressure within the tubing of the Single-Use Thrombus Aspiration Negative Pressure Pump exhibits cyclical fluctuations. This pulsating pressure acts on the thrombus, continuously dislodging the obstruction at the catheter tip until the thrombus is drawn into the catheter.

8. Rapid Negative Pressure Response and Sustained Pressure Maintenance

¡ñ Faster Response Speed£º

When the catheter tip is sealed to simulate thrombus occlusion, the Single-Use Thrombus Aspiration Negative Pressure Pump demonstrates a quicker pressure response compared to traditional thrombus aspiration pumps.

¡ñ Longer Pressure Maintenance£º

After stable operation, when the device is turned off, the Single-Use Thrombus Aspiration Negative Pressure Pump maintains pressure within the tubing for a longer duration than traditional thrombus aspiration pumps.