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Gao Qi, a returnee from Hangzhou, succeeds in developing an artificial heart with independent intellectual property rights. [Photo/cnjxol.com]

Gao Qi, a returnee from Hangzhou, opened a company in Haining, a county in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, last year to engage in the research and development of medical devices, local media reported recently.

"After investigating Haining, we found that the local government has many preferential policies to support the life and health industries," said Gao.

He also noted that numerous high-quality medical device projects and innovative medical professionals in the county would be helpful in furthering the development of the company.

Under the leadership of Gao, the Zhejiang Diyuan Medical Device Co has succeeded in developing an artificial heart with independent intellectual property rights, which is expected to break the foreign technological monopoly.

"The artificial heart can be used to treat acute myocardial infarctions and for surgical protection against high-risk percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention and the intensive treatment of COVID-19," said Gao, adding that it can help save lives.

Gao went to the United States for further study in engineering mechanics after obtaining Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Zhejiang University and Tsinghua University.

In 2011, he returned home from abroad and served as associate professor of the Institute of Fluid Mechanics at Beihang University. It was then that Gao started studying artificial heart and heart valve prosthesis.

He said he believes that medical care is important to any country and therefore, he hopes that his knowledge will contribute to the development of medical devices in China.

Based on his specialized background in biological fluid mechanics, Gao has set his eyes on mechanical auxiliary circulation devices, which are mainly used to rescue and treat patients with congestive heart failure or critically ill patients.

The percutaneous ventricular assist device produced by Gao and his research team has filled a gap in the country's medical device industry.