The Engineering Research Center of Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Technology in Body Cavities is based at Peking University and was established in 2007. Its supervising authority is the Ministry of Education, and the current director is Professor Xi Peng. The center operates in the field of biomedicine, focusing on biomedical photonic imaging technologies, and is dedicated to developing high-end endoscopes and microscopic imaging equipment to achieve domestic substitution and drive industrial advancement. 

The center conducts research along two main directions: hyperspectral endoscopic imaging technology and miniaturized two-photon microscopy. In hyperspectral endoscopy, the center has achieved breakthroughs in key technologies including CCD/CMOS high-definition imaging, FPGA-based real-time high-speed image processing, laser transmission and wireless power supply, simultaneous white-light and narrow-band imaging, wide-angle and optical magnification. These advances have led to the successful commercialization of the AQ-200 medical endoscopic image processor and the AQ-300 ultra-high-definition endoscopic system, filling gaps in the domestic high-end endoscopy market and significantly enhancing the international competitiveness of Chinese-made products. In the area of miniaturized two-photon microscopy, the center has overcome challenges in core components such as femtosecond lasers, hollow-core photonic crystal fibers, and miniature high-numerical-aperture objectives. It has developed the world’s first two-photon microscope that was successfully deployed and operated aboard the China Space Station, achieving the world’s first in-orbit observation of astronauts’ cellular structures and metabolic information. 

In terms of technology transfer and impact, the center has established deep collaborations with companies such as Shanghai Aohua Photoelectricity Endoscope Co., Ltd., promoting the industrialization of the AQ series. Among these, the AQ-200 received regulatory approval and entered the market in 2017, with sales reaching 150 million RMB in 2021. The AQ-300 (4K ultra-high-definition) has obtained multiple domestic and CE registrations, accelerating the substitution of imported products. Meanwhile, the lipid microbubble ultrasound contrast agent “FeiRuiWei,” developed by Professor Zhifei Dai’s team, has received clinical trial approval and entered Phase III trials, with the potential to break the 97% market monopoly of imported products. The miniaturized two-photon microscopy technology, commercialized through the spin-off company “Transcend Vivoscope,” has generated over 100 million RMB in sales, including overseas sales, and established the “Nanjing Brain Observatory,” serving fields such as brain science, aerospace medicine, and skin disease diagnosis. 

The center operates under a director responsibility system and a technical committee system. Leveraging major scientific platforms including Peking University’s Institute for Future Technologies and the National Biomedical Imaging Center, the center has built a complete engineering chain covering R&D, pilot-scale production, clinical trials, and productization. During the evaluation period, the university invested approximately 11 million RMB, and the team secured over 81.5 million RMB in external competitive funding, with significant income from technology transfer and services. The center has trained 28 doctoral students and 5 master’s students, published 90 papers, filed 25 invention patents, obtained 4 CFDA registrations and 1 CE registration, and offered multiple undergraduate and graduate courses, strongly supporting the development of biomedical engineering at Peking University. 

For current and future planning, the center will continue to pursue breakthroughs in next-generation endoscopic technologies, super-resolution microscopy, photoacoustic medical imaging, and fluorescence-ultrasound multimodal probes. Its goal is to reach or surpass international leading levels, master core technologies, promote autonomous control and industrial upgrading of China’s high-end medical equipment, and serve the “Healthy China” initiative and the national innovation-driven development strategy.