Li Shuangshuang, an outstanding Communist Party member of Guangdong Province, insisted on and made a breakthrough in "from zero to one"

Source: Nanfang Daily

"At that time, well-known medical companies at home and abroad were competing to develop this technology, the competition was fierce, if we gave up, it would be equivalent to taking the initiative to concede defeat in the international competition, so I gritted my teeth and persevered." Recalling the scientific research experience of "ten years of grinding a sword", Li Shuangshuang, technical manager, chief engineer of system research and deputy manager of department of Shenzhen Mindray Biomedical Electronics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Mindray Medical"),said Li Shuangshuang.

Immersed in the biomedical profession for nearly 20 years, Li Shuangshuang has experienced loneliness and hardship, but he has also harvested the joy of "from 0 to 1" technological breakthrough. A few days ago, Li Shuangshuang was awarded the Outstanding Communist Party Member of Guangdong Province.

Survive the confusion and pain and conquer the core technology

Li Shuangshuang's research and development career began in a laboratory of less than 8 square meters.

After graduating from Tsinghua University in 2008 with a major in biomedical engineering, Li Shuangshuang entered Mindray Medical and became a R&D engineer, mainly responsible for the research of ultrasonic cutting-edge imaging technology, and the main direction of attack was ultrasonic shear wave elastography technology.

"It was a new technology for the whole world at the time." Li Shuangshuang said that there are few core technical materials, no large number of literature or books for reference, and no expert guidance, and most of them have to rely on their own experiments and exploration. In the early stages of research and development, she was almost the only one to ponder this technology, all the instruments were placed in a laboratory of less than 8 square meters, there was no experimental table, and she always squatted on the ground to do experiments.

The bigger challenge comes from the experimental process. "Figuring out how to produce a shear wave source of sufficient intensity and range in the human body has been experimented hundreds of times, and this is only the first link in the technical research." She said that the long process of core technology research did not progress smoothly at first, and the doubts of colleagues around her increased, and even some people advised her to give up this direction: "It is not easy to produce results, and it is too much to lose years to invest in." ”

However, Li Shuangshuang is clear that this is the cutting-edge technology for extracting the hardness information of human tissues, and once successfully developed, it will play an important role in the diagnosis of major diseases such as breast cancer and cirrhosis, and has great significance for improving the medical level of our country.

"Since foreign countries can make it, Chinese can also make it." It is this momentum of not accepting defeat that allowed her to survive the first four or five years, and all the core technologies were conquered one by one. In the next five or six years, she and her team will devote themselves to realizing the technology on the product, promoting the product to the clinic, and further studying the clinical value and diagnostic effect.

"Although there are also many difficulties, with the technical experience fully accumulated from '0 to 1', with the experience of surviving confusion and pain and finally successfully crossing the tough problems, no matter how big the difficulties can be calmly faced." Li Shuangshuang said with emotion.

In the end, this technology won the second prize of the 2017 National Technological Invention Award.

Determined to contribute to national medical treatment

When Li Shuangshuang graduated, the domestic biomedical industry had just started, although some enterprises appeared, but most of them did not attach importance to research and development, so many graduates of the same major chose to go abroad, work in foreign companies or transfer to finance and other industries.

"Private enterprises can't recruit people at all, and without talents, how can this industry develop?" A sentence from the school teacher deeply stung Li Shuangshuang.

"As a party member, I have an unshirkable responsibility." Li Shuangshuang was determined to contribute to national medical treatment. Therefore, she went south to Shenzhen and joined Mindray Medical, a national enterprise that attaches great importance to scientific research. She was pleased to find that Shenzhen, a hot land of innovation, is very friendly to young people, dares to let young people shoulder heavy burdens, and the incentive for innovation is also leading the country. "As long as you dare to break through and do it, there will be moments of glowing heat." She said.

Over the years, Li Shuangshuang has devoted himself to scientific research and has also exchanged sweat for harvest. Today, on the exhibition wall of the Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall, there is a photo of Li Shuangshuang, paying tribute to her and more scientific researchers like her who are "willing to sit on the cold bench".

In November 2020, Li Shuangshuang, who won the honorary title of "National Model Worker", received the award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, which is the third time that the "post-80s" scientist has stood on the podium of the Great Hall of the People.

A few days ago, Li Shuangshuang was rated as an outstanding communist party member in Guangdong Province. "I am full of gratitude for receiving this honor, and at the same time full of confidence in the future of the motherland." In Li Shuangshuang's view, it is the party's cultivation that gives a young student a rare platform for development and space to play.

Nowadays, Li Shuangshuang is fully committed to the research and development of ultra-high-end platform ultrasound machines in China, and strives to help China change from a follower to a leader in the field of ultrasound imaging technology. "I will also devote myself to cultivating the team, cultivating more young talents, and promoting the self-reliance and self-reliance of medical science and technology in China." Li Shuangshuang said.

Southern Daily reporter Bian Delong