On May 27, 2022, Prof. Guan Lihua, from Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, presented research progress on atrial shunts during the summits. Since Dr. Austen's animal experiments on atrial septostomy began in 1964, to the first use in patients by Rich and Lam in 1983, it has been found that creating a shunt in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients reduces pulmonary hypertension and improves left heart function. However, the shunt opening is prone to closure and difficult to maintain, leading to the development of the shunt. Over time, this technique was also used for patients with left heart failure. Both domestic and international research has shown that shunts can alleviate heart failure symptoms. The success of the procedure hinges on selecting the right shunt size and considering the patient's degree of heart failure.

Currently，China is conducting clinical trials for atrial shunts. Notably, ConFlow MedTech has introduced the FreeFlow percutaneous atrial septal shunt system, developed and patented by Academician Ge Junbo and Prof. Zhou Daxin from Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. This groundbreaking technology is distinguished as the world's first atrial septal shunt system with a polymer membrane that rapidly develops an endothelial layer and can be reused twice, based on nearly 20 successful animal experiments. Results from animal experiments at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-implantation show complete endothelialization of the shunt's surface, with no thrombus formation, and unobstructed shunt apertures. This reusable feature simplifies the surgical procedure, reducing its complexity. Furthermore, multiple aperture specifications have been designed to accommodate various treatment needs. A report on the First-In-Man (FIM) study, involving 5 patients, demonstrated significant improvements following FreeFlow shunt surgery. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure and left atrial pressure decreased by more than 20%, resulting in improved cardiac function and relief from heart failure symptoms. Future clinical trials in additional centers hold the potential to benefit a larger population of heart failure patients.