“Standing High on the Mountain, Diving Deep into the Sea”:

WR-3D from Angell Technology Installed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital

History of a Century, Renowned All Over the World

On the celebration ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), there is a saying: “There is a force, a choice and a way of doing things, though not loud, but continuous, forming its own universe.

In 1923, the Time magazine reviewed the 10-year journey of the Rockefeller Foundation since its establishment. Besides the astonishing funding, it also reviewed the core theme which it consistently focuses on in its development: the health of all humankind. Standing on either side of this theme are its two great achievements: one is in the United States, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; the other is in China, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). In the 1940s, when Pei Sung Tang founded the College of Agriculture at Tsinghua University, the goal was stated as: “Tsinghua College of Agriculture should become the PUMC in the Chinese agricultural circle.” In 1951, when the new Chinese government took over PUMC, it was instructed: “The Peking Union Hospital is well-known in Asia and even worldwide. We must run it well, if not, it will cause a bad effect.”

It can be said, “The history of PUMC is half the history of modern Chinese medicine.” The tumultuous history of PUMC over a century has witnessed tremendous changes in modern Chinese medicine. In this palace of medicine and cradle of masters, numerous founding figures of disciplines and industry giants have emerged, writing immortal legends and glories.

PUMCH ranking the top among China’s hospitals for 13 consecutive years, with 28 specialized departments ranking in the top ten.

Ranking the second in comprehensive Science and Technology Measurement (STEM) of China’s hospitals, with 17 disciplines in the top ten.

5 disciplines in the national “Double First-Class” construction.

29 national clinical key specialties.

6 national-level research platforms.

3 academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Joining Hands with PUMCH, Standing High on the Mountain

With innovative breakthroughs in digital X-ray technology by Angell Technology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital swiftly executed its equipment procurement plan, rapidly completing the tendering purchase process in just 9 months. As the Year of the Dragon (2024) began, PUMCH got the hospital’s equipment room fully prepared and worked together with Angell Technology’s technical and customer service teams, efficiently completing the installation, debugging, and operation of the Weight-Bearing Radiography System-3 Dimensional (WR-3D) multifunctional X-ray machine within 10 days, meeting the standards set by PUMC Hospital.

The WR-3D Weight-Bearing Radiography System-3 Dimensional, installed at PUMCH, is the world’s first 2D+3D all-in-one examination device based on the cabin-style design. Using the cone-beam imaging technology, the WR-3D system enables three-dimensional scanning and reconstruction while the patient is in a standing position. With just a slow rotation of the patient on the platform, it can obtain three-dimensional images of the scanned area. In comparison to the upright 2D radiography, WR-3D solves issues related to tissue overlap caused by positioning and projection. Moreover, compared to supine CT and MRI, it tackles the challenge of accurately reflecting the joint stress of the patient under natural weight-bearing conditions. Beyond these advantages, WR-3D is also an ultra-low-dose three-dimensional scanning and reconstruction system, with a dose equivalent to only 10%-20% of conventional MSCT, providing convenience for the follow-up observations of patients.

Furthermore, the automatic measurement system of WR-3D holds significant clinical value for diseases related to spinal and knee joints. Taking scoliosis as an example, WR-3D can provide quantitative data such as Cobb degrees, vertebral displacement/rotation vector graphs, and vertebral rotation degree histograms. This precise data supports effective surgical planning for patients. In terms of personalized knee orthotics, high tibial osteotomy, and total knee arthroplasty, WR-3D supports automatic measurements of convergence angles of both knee joints under weight-bearing, femoral distal lateral angles, medial proximal tibial angles, three-dimensional anatomical tibial angles, and three-dimensional medial and lateral clearances of the knee joint. With richer and visualized data, WR-3D enhances the precision of diagnosis and treatment services for patients with knee joint diseases.

It is reported that the relationship between Angell Technology and PUMCH began in the spring of 2023. From the first communication and negotiation, the product performance of “WR-3D” received high recognition from experts. Radiology experts at PUMCH commented: Currently, research is trending towards high-precision technologies like 5T, 7T, etc. However, Angell uses the simplest equipment to explore how to conduct more examinations. This not only reduces medical insurance expenses for the country but also saves money for patients, reducing their burden, which holds greater social significance. The clinical orthopedic expert believes that spinal joint tomographic three-dimensional imaging based on weight-bearing has important clinical value and significance for the examination and treatment of spinal diseases. It helps in better data comparison in clinical settings and promotes the precision of clinical diagnosis and treatment processes.

(Image of Expert Evaluation)

Joining Hands for Innovation, Diving Deep Into the Sea

Simultaneously, Angell Technology and PUMCH have embarked on collaborative innovation, initiating a research and development plan for multi-modal imaging in regards to high-incidence diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. With the bidirectional integration of Angell Technology’s innovative technology platform and PUMCH’s robust clinical research capabilities, leveraging the technological features of digital X-ray time imaging and functional imaging, and combined with AI intelligent algorithms, it aims to establish a brand-new, safe, efficient, and non-invasive imaging assessment method in the field of high-incidence diseases like cardiovascular conditions. Nowadays, the integration of medicine and modern engineering technology has become a powerful tool for the development of industry disciplines. With the support of PUMCH’s professional research team, it is expected that more high-quality research results will emerge, contributing to the advancement of precise clinical diagnosis and treatment.

From 2002 to 2024, Angell has dedicated 22 years to the field of X-ray technology innovation. A decade of meticulous effort led to the development of China’s first independently researched and developed detector. Another decade of perseverance resulted in China’s first domestically produced dynamic DR complete machine, the first cabin-style weight-bearing cone-beam tomography X-ray imaging system, and the first mobile bedside dynamic functional imaging X-ray machine. The experience and wisdom gained over the past twenty years emphasize that focus, dedication, and open integration are the essential paths to innovation. Centered around clinical applications, exploring uncharted territories, and delving deep into the sea, is the indispensable route to achieving technological innovation.