Traditional Chinese Medicine Pulses with New Technology

BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — At a bustling exhibition booth, Tran Quynh Mai, a Vietnamese student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in China, was drawn to a humanoid robot.

The robot, unveiled at the ongoing Beijing International Services Fair, used three mechanical “fingers” to detect and collect heart rate signals from a person’s wrist, effectively simulating a TCM screening technique known as pulse diagnosis.

At the same time, heart rate activity was displayed on the screen, working similarly to electrocardiography.

Intrigued by the combination of technology and traditional Chinese medicine – a practice that has been around for thousands of years – Tran, 20, and her colleagues at the University of Chinese Medicine in Beijing were eager to join other visitors to interact with the robot.

The robot, paired with a box-like facial diagnostic device equipped with a camera, is the latest development from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences’ Experimental Research Center (CACMS), an initiative that aims to improve TCM practices using artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies.

These devices are used to perform the four basic TCM diagnostic methods: examination, auscultation and olfactory examination, questionnaire examination, and palpation examination.

The equipment compares the collected data — such as heart rate, complexion and tongue coating — with data from healthy people of the same age and sex, said Liu Jia, an assistant research professor at CACMS.

This comparison allows for the formulation of reports detailing specific physical conditions and TCM treatment plans. The entire diagnostic process takes about 10 minutes, and the reports are conveniently available on patients’ mobile phones.

Liu noted that there have been some voices questioning traditional Chinese medicine, particularly regarding its reliance on doctors’ subjective feelings and experiences.

“With AI-based devices, diagnosis and treatment are becoming more unified,” she said, adding that CACMS is working with companies to mass produce these devices.

Tran described the technology as akin to having “a seasoned TCM practitioner.” “For those studying TCM outside of China, this equipment will be invaluable,” said Tran, who interrupted her TCM studies in Vietnam to pursue more professional training in China.

Narmada Dissanayalce of Sri Lanka, who is in Beijing for a seminar on public health management, echoes Tran’s sentiments. With a doctorate in Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medical system, Dissanayalce developed a keen interest in TCM and studied acupuncture in Sri Lanka.

She noted that although TCM is popular in her country, pulse and facial diagnoses are less common compared to acupuncture and meridian massage. “There are few experienced TCM practitioners in Sri Lanka who can do pulse and facial diagnoses, and I believe these high-tech products can help in this area, helping to expand the reach of TCM,” she said.

In addition to AI devices for pulse and facial diagnostics, TCM research teams and companies also presented robots for acupuncture and meridian massage at this year’s fair, which impressed both domestic and foreign visitors.

Lin Zhijian, a professor at the University of Chinese Medicine in Beijing, expressed his belief that modern technology will help develop traditional Chinese medicine as an industry and increase its international exchanges through improved services.

“As an ancient practice and culture, TCM has always promoted inclusiveness and innovation; otherwise, it would not have survived to this day, let alone gained popularity in overseas countries,” Lin said.

A key document adopted by the Chinese Communist Party in July stressed the importance of strengthening mechanisms to preserve and innovate TCM. Yu Yanhong, head of the National Administration of TCM, pledged to improve the promotion of scientific and technological innovation in this field.

Dajing TCM, a medical technology company based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, showcased its AI-based heart rate diagnostic devices at the exhibition.

Sales Director Zhang Yu emphasized that their products stand out in terms of portability and cost-effectiveness. The device weighs about 1 kilogram and costs about 30,000 yuan (about 4,200 U.S. dollars).

Zhang noted that their main customers are health and wellness centers, community clinics and households. “We are working with our foreign counterparts to explore overseas markets. The potential of TCM technology products will increase as TCM gains popularity in other regions,” Zhang said.