Zhu Rui adjusts equipment at a laboratory of Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 12, 2024.
On Feb. 18, the first working day after China's Spring Festival holiday, Zhu Rui, founder of medical device company Vivolight, came to the catheter operating room of Beijing Anzhen Hospital to learn about the use of OCT equipment produced by his company.
OCT, or optical coherence tomography technology, allows doctors to examine patients and display real-time three-dimensional images where the catheter passes, providing guide for surgery.
Since graduating from Tsinghua University in 2006, Zhu has been engaged in OCT related research and product development. His role has changed from a student, a researcher to an entrepreneur.
While studying in Beijing, Zhu built an OCT system for ophthalmology. While studying for his PhD in Hong Kong, he realized the potential value of OCT technology in cardiovascular surgery. In 2012, he gave up his doctoral studies and tried to transform the achievements in his research.
With the support of Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, he founded Vivolight, China's first company focusing on cardiovascular interventional surgery imaging system.
In 2017, the OCT equipment developed by Zhu Rui and his team conducted clinical trials for the first time, but doctors' feedback was not good. Therefore, Zhu Rui led the team to the hospital to learn clinical knowledge and learn about the practical needs of doctors. In 2020, after 8 years of continuous upgrades, Zhu's product was finally approved for market, and doctors gave it a high evaluation.
In the subsequent mass production process, in order to ensure the quality, Zhu led the research and development personnel to work on the production line.
He told reporters that his dream is to make 100 innovative medical device products. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao)
Zhu Rui (L) talks with a doctor about the use of OCT equipment at Beijing Anzhen Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2024 shows a portrait of Zhu Rui. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui (L) talks with a researcher at a laboratory of Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao)
Zhu Rui attends a video conference on his way to a branch office of Vivolight in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao)
Zhu Rui (R) talks with his colleague at a branch office of Vivolight in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui (back) observes doctors using OCT equipment at Beijing Anzhen Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui and his colleagues discuss the research progress of OCT technology at a laboratory of a branch office of Vivolight in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui (R) learns about the use of OCT equipment at Beijing Anzhen Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui adjusts OCT equipment at a laboratory of a branch office of Vivolight in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui attends a video conference with experts at a branch office of Vivolight in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui (R) talks with his partner Dr. Mi Lei in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Zhu Rui (R) tests a new generation of OCT equipment at a laboratory of a branch office of Vivolight in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)