Interview
Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing healthcare in Greater China today, especially in gynecology?
Han: Healthcare in China is now very advanced, and in gynecology everyone recommends minimally invasive surgery as the best approach. Within minimally invasive surgery, about 95 to 100 percent of physicians can now perform laparoscopy, but in hysteroscopy fewer than 10 percent – some even say 5 percent – have truly mastered the technique, and even those who have may be limited to looking. An approach that combines diagnosis and treatment will, I think, be a very big topic in the future development of gynecology.
Q: What competitive advantages do you think Richard Wolf has over its competitors?
Han: Hysteroscopy is currently one of the less developed areas of gynecology. Richard Wolf's advantage lies in what we just discussed – a new concept we have proposed: a one-stop hysteroscopic diagnosis and treatment system. Normally we only perform an examination; afterwards, treating or removing the lesion may require another appointment, anesthesia and much more. With a one-stop hysteroscopic diagnosis and treatment room, we can combine these two steps into one. With Richard Wolf's new technologies, hysteroscopic procedures that used to require anesthesia or cervical dilatation can now be done with tiny instruments: through a mini hysteroscope we can remove the lesion directly with forceps or other special instruments while we are looking at it. In Europe this is called See & Treat – the lesion is removed at the moment it is seen. I believe Richard Wolf is very advanced in this area. It helps clinicians do what they previously could not: with this one-stop design and Richard Wolf hysteroscopic instruments, we can treat these lesions easily and help patients a great deal.
About the expert
Wang: Using a uterine manipulator is a really good approach in surgery, especially in gynecology, and I greatly admire the engineers who invented it. The manipulator cup is very important in our clinical work. In gynecological procedures such as total hysterectomy, myomectomy and the treatment of malignant tumors, being able to lift the uterus with the cup and move it in different directions is a great help to the surgeon. For beginners, however, identifying the boundary is very difficult, because the bladder is attached in this area and there are other important organs. Being able to identify this boundary clearly is a great help for safe and smooth surgery. The Richard Wolf illuminated manipulator cup has a light band at its rim once it is switched on during surgery. Seeing this light band – especially for beginners – makes surgery very safe and helps it go smoothly.
About the expert
