Info about HIFU/ Haifu System and Interview with Haifu Inventor

Info about HIFU/ Haifu System:

HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) that focuses very high frequency (0.8MHz to 2.4MHz) of sound waves on a focal region of about
1.1mm×3.3mm—1.4mm×5.6 mm for about 1 to 4 seconds by elevating tissue temperature up to 70°C to 90 °C to ablate tumors or cancers is a
highly precise non-invasive therapeutic technology which can treat almost all kinds of tumors both benign and malignant except visceral tumors,
mediastinal tumors and spinal tumors.
HIFU works as the light rays of sun burns a leaf after entering a magnifying lens. If a magnifying lens is held above a leaf on a
sunny day the light rays intersect below the lens at a focal point and burns the leaf at the point of intersection or at the focal point. However, if
you insert your hand into the path of sunrays in front of focal point or away from focal point, there is no significant heat felt or harm caused.
Alternatively, if you place your hand at the point of intersection you will be burned.
The basic scientific principles of HIFU are similar to this example but HIFU uses sound waves instead of light waves
and transducer instead of magnifying lens. Just as the individual sunray is harmless to the hand, and individual sound wave is harmless to the
healthy tissue it travels through.
During HIFU, the physician uses continuously updated real-time images with MRI or Ultrasound inbuilt in HIFU System to
map out and execute the entire treatment plan. These images show treatment progression and permit the physician to customize treatment for
maximum safety and effectiveness.
HIFU is absolutely safe and different from the radiation therapy that damages the intervening healthy tissues with the
radiation. Because of no side effects and no worry of surgery mark and radiation danger, HIFU is getting very popular in developed countries at
present. HIFU is currently used in the UK, Italy, Spain, Japan, Korea, Russia, Malaysia, Hongkong China, Mainland China, etc.
Although potential applications of HIFU were completed in 1942, practical and technological limitations hampered their
progress and use. However, Dr. Wang Zhibiao, a well known Chinese scientist started a research on biological effects of Ultrasound in 1989. In
1996, Dr. Wang Zhibiao was able to treat a first human patient with bone tumor in Institute of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine of Chongqing
Medical University, Chongqing, China. Then Dr. Wang Zhibiao and his team worked continuously in their Chongqing Haifu Technology
Company Ltd. after its establishment in 1999 and discovered new applications of focused ultrasound to treat gynecological diseases and allergic
rhinitis in 1999. Since then Chongqing Haifu has three major products of focused ultrasound therapeutic system: 1. Model JC focused ultrasound
therapeutic system (Haifu System or Chongqing Haifu Knife) to treat benign or malignant tumors 2. Model CZF (Seapostar) to treat
gynecological diseases 3. Model CZB (Seapopinna) to treat allergic rhinitis
Among these three products, Model JC focused ultrasound therapeutic system has two types of products: 1. Ultrasound -
Guided HIFU System 2. MRI - Guided HIFU System
In these 2 products of Model JC focused ultrasound therapeutic System, Ultrasound and MRI inbuilt in it are used for real time
imaging to identify the tumors before destroying by focused ultrasound and to monitor the therapy procedure. All these products have
completely independent intellectual property rights in Chongqing Haifu, Chongqing, China.
Chongqing Haifu has completed clinical trials at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, the UK. The data obtained there enabled
Chongqing Haifu; Chongqing China to obtain the CE Mark from TUV Rhineland for Model JC focused ultrasound therapeutic system in 2005.
Model JC (Chongqing Haifu Knife) has already treated more than 10,000 patients with benign and malignant tumors all over Europe and Asia.
Model CZF and CZB are also recognized and approved by Ukraine, Russia and China and are used in Russia and China. Chongqing Haifu’s
leading position was confirmed when Chongqing Haifu completed successful clinical trials, obtained CE Mark for its Model JC focused
ultrasound therapeutic system and got Chongqing Haifu Technology Company Ltd. allocated as the headquarters by the International Society for
Therapeutic Ultrasound.
References:
• Chongqing Haifu Technology Company Ltd. www.haifu.com.cn
• Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China www.cqmu.edu.cn
• Siemens www.siemens.com
• Esaote Italy www.esaote.com
• Ultrasound Therapeutics Limited, UK www.utlltd.com
• ITX Japan www.itx-corp.co.jp/index_e.html
• HIFU Technology PTE LTD www.hifutech.com
• TAI HAN METRA Corporation, Korea www.taihanmetra.com
Interview with Haifu Inventor:
Most of us over the years have known ultrasound in one way or the other. Perhaps it had helped you out to diagnose or obtain
images when you had some diseases. Focused ultrasound and high intensity focused ultrasound was still unknown among many of us which I
have described above precisely. But, do you know the leading scientist in the world who invented the large-scale medical technology (Haifu
System) that uses HIFU? Well today, I will let you know my close encounter with him and a precisely short interview with him captured in his
busiest time.
2009-5-24
Q: Mr. Keshav Bhattarai
A: Dr. Wang Zhibiao
(Interpreter: Mr. Peng Xiang; Director of International Department, Haifu, Chongqing, China)

Q: Good Afternoon Sir; First, I would like to thank you so much for your time. Well known name Dr. Wang Zhibiao but known very less
about your ground breaking non-invasive cancer treatment technology in the developing countries of Asia and Africa. What do you say
about that? Alternatively, how are you planning to access your technology in such areas?
A: First, I would like to say, any emerging technology is not privileged for developed countries. It belongs to whole world. We should be
focusing on the diseases and its effective treatment.
We also need help from you to push such new technology to such areas. We know in such areas need health care service is very big. For
developing countries, we should think such topics on our own and should do more ourselves. Actually all students come here are from
developing countries. We are highly thankful. If you have any new idea, you can directly talk to me. We are not only for money; we work for
diseases and patients. You are very lucky that you got chance to know the latest medical technology in the world.
We really hope s/he can become pioneer HIFU doctor in his/her country or in the world if s/he gets training or
education here. We have capability to train and teach students. We think this is big contribution from Chongqing Medical University and from
Mr. Wang Dong to arrange you a trip to see our technology in our Haifu Company.
Q: I have read a lot about you and your HIFU technology. Could you please tell me what made you think about its invention?
A: First, it is very interesting topic. In 1989, our professor/doctor gave us a topic to find out whether a beam of Focused Ultrasound (FU) affects
an embryo or not. We found out that the beam of Focused Ultrasound (FU) affects the embryo and can even terminate the pregnancy if the
intensity is increased. However, no effects were seen on the surrounding tissue (mother’s tissue). Therefore, we thought if it could show any
influence or effect to cancer or tumor, which might help to ablate and treat cancer. Since then this topic started and we continued our research.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is non-invasive and can do a lot inside a human body without affecting the intervening tissues.
Q: I guess Haifu is the name of HIFU system or technology. What is really the difference between Haifu and HIFU? Alternatively, what
is the mystery behind the name Haifu?
A: Haifu is infact the name of our company that produces HIFU system or technology. Although, Haifu and HIFU sound similar, they have a
little bit different pronunciation. Haifu is infect a Chinese word composed of two characters hai and fu of which hai means sea and fu means
relieve whereas, HIFU stands for High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound. It is co-incidence that they are written and spoken a little bit similarly.
However, the overall literal meaning is finally connected with the treatment. Therefore, whatever it is, the name Haifu is suitable for our HIFU
system or technology company.
Q: I know a lot about the Model JC (the Haifu System or the Haifu Knife), the Model CZF (the Seapostar) and the Model CZB (the
Seapopinna). Could you please tell me what are you planning to invent next?
A: Since our company is National Engineering Research Center and Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medical Ultrasound Engineering, our aim is
to develop 2 to 3 new innovative products or technology every year besides treating different kinds of benign tumors, malignant tumors,
gynecological diseases and allergic rhinitis. May be we will work on skin diseases, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), etc for our next
invention.
Q: You are a great scientist. China and Chinese people must feel very proud of you. What is your opinion towards China and Chinese
people?
A: First, China is a developing country like your country. Second, we have same nature like working, diligent, etc. Because of the historical
reason we are just developing (less developed) compared to developed countries. However, we believe we have chance to become better than
developed countries. We the people of developing countries can convert our poverty into power and overpass the developed countries.
One of my friends from France once said to me that the young generations in France are too lazy as they are too developed
and left nothing to develop. Therefore, you will know what will happen in future.
Q: I have read a lot about the Haifu (HIFU) system but found no information about its side effects. Is there any side effect of the Haifu
(HIFU) system?
A: It is believed that the Haifu (HIFU) system has no side effects. To tell you the truth, it absolutely has some side effects. If it has no side
effects means, it is not a therapy. However, the side effects of the Haifu (HIFU) system are of negligible amount compared to radiation therapy,
chemotherapy, and surgery. Therefore, you cannot generally find information about the side effects of the Haifu (HIFU) system in books and
internet. Moreover, we are still working on it to minimize the side effects of the Haifu (HIFU) system.

Regards!
Mr. Keshav Bhattarai
Chongqing Medical University (CQMU)
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
Chief Editor (THE INFORMATICS, tri-monthly magazine of CQMU)