Chongqing—On June 21, the 2025 Yangtze Summit of Minimally Invasive and Noninvasive Medicine & Annual Academic Conference of the Focused Ultrasound Therapy Branch of Chongqing Medical Association opened in Chongqing’s Yubei District. Co-hosted by the International Society of Minimally Invasive and Virtual Surgery (ISMIVS)  and the Chongqing Medical Association, the event has drawn over 500 global experts to explore cutting-edge advances in medical technologies that prioritize organ preservation, functional integrity, and patient dignity.

The summit’s agenda spanned 16 keynote lectures across gynecology, oncology, neuroscience, and rehabilitation, plus specialized forums on nursing innovation, outpatient management, and hospital quality. Interactive sessions, such as the "Haifu Cup" International Case Competition and Young Physician Debates, fostered cross-disciplinary dialogue among over 150 experts. 

The summit highlighted ​​Focused Ultrasound Ablation Surgery (FUAS)​—a paradigm-shifting technology developed in Chongqing laboratories. This approach harnesses precisely calibrated ultrasonic waves to destroy tumors through thermal, mechanical, and cavitation effects, achieving what experts call the "​Four-Zero Standard​": no surgical incisions, no bleeding, no scarring, and zero radiation exposure. By late 2024, Chongqing-developed ​​Haifu Knife systems had treated over ​​320,000 tumor patients across more than 400 global treatment centers, including over 80 facilities along the Belt and Road. This clinical dataset—the world’s largest for FUAS—validates both its efficacy and safety while positioning Chongqing as the global standard-setter for noninvasive protocols.

More than 500 global experts and scholars gathered in Chongqing for this academic forum. (Photo/Qihai Deng)

President of ISMIVS ​​Professor Philippe Descamps, who pioneered laparoscopic surgery four decades ago, framed FUAS as a historic breakthrough: "This isn’t just an improvement—it’s a turning point. Where surgery was once unavoidable, we now offer truly noninvasive solutions. To ensure global adoption, he emphasized the importance of structured training and rigorous clinical trials.

Opening Remarks by Professor Philippe Descamps, President of ISMIVS. ​(Photo/Qihai Deng)

Operationalizing "Healthy China" Through Global Outreach

The summit revealed significant progress in Chongqing's internationalization of its healthcare. Five local hospitals, including Chongqing People's Hospital and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, now provide WHO-compliant bilingual services with international insurance integration. Academic-industry synergy emerged as another key theme. Chongqing Medical University President Zhang Zemin confirmed that the integration of industry, academia, research, and application accelerated Haifu technology's journey from a laboratory concept to a global clinical solution. The model has cultivated international talent partnerships with 12 countries while advancing FUAS applications for uterine fibroids, liver cancer, and bone metastasis.

As the conference closed, Professor Xu Yongzhu of Chongqing Medical Association offered a historical perspective: "The progression from open surgery to laparoscopy to noninvasive FUAS mirrors humanity's unending pursuit of precision and compassion in medicine." With Chongqing now driving 43% of global FUAS clinical trials and training international physicians from Nairobi to London, the summit clarified that China's mountainous megacity has become indispensable to medicine's least invasive—and most promising—frontiers.

Guests engaged in discussions during the coffee break session. (Photo/Qihai Deng)

Minimally invasive and noninvasive medicine represents far more than cutting-edge therapeutic technology—it embodies the very evolution of medical civilization. This journey from invasive procedures to minimally invasive techniques, and now to truly noninvasive therapies, mirrors humanity's unrelenting pursuit of medical precision and compassionate care. Each technological leap—from the first laparoscopic tools to today's focused ultrasound systems—reflects our growing understanding that true healing must balance scientific advancement with patient dignity and respect. As we stand at this pivotal moment in medical history, Chongqing's leadership in noninvasive innovation serves as both a testament to human ingenuity and a promise for medicine's future, where effective treatment no longer requires physical trauma, and healing can be as gentle as it is precise. This is not merely progress—it's the realization of medicine's highest ideal: to cure without harm.