2-Minute Direct Delivery! Ruijin Hospital Pioneers "Window-to-Window" UAV Transport of Pathological Specimens, Boosting Efficiency by 10 Times
Shanghai, March 30, 2026
Core Highlights
- China’s first "window-to-window" direct transport mode from operating room to pathology department has cut the delivery time of intraoperative frozen pathological specimens from 20 minutes to just 2 minutes, improving efficiency by nearly 10 times.
- Jointly launched by China Unicom and Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the project has set an industry benchmark with zero errors and zero accidents.
- Since its maiden flight on September 29, 2025, up to March 2026, it has completed hundreds of transport missions, successfully delivering 675 specimens covering surgeries in thyroid, breast, gastrointestinal and other departments.
- The model gains precious time for intraoperative pathological diagnosis and precise surgical decision-making, and is expected to be promoted in tertiary hospitals nationwide.
I. Addressing a Critical Medical Pain Point: The 20-Minute "Life Wait"
In surgical operations, intraoperative frozen pathological reports serve as the "golden standard" for determining surgical scope, directly affecting treatment plans and patient prognosis. Traditionally, pathological specimens needed to be manually transported from operating rooms to the pathology department, taking at least 20 minutes due to elevator congestion and ground pedestrian flow. During this period, patients remain under anesthesia, and surgeons face time pressure for surgical decisions, forming a key bottleneck restricting surgical efficiency and precision.
II. National First: An Aerial "Window-to-Window" Direct Link
According to the pilot project results jointly released by China Unicom and Ruijin Hospital on March 30, 2026, the country’s first "window-to-window" direct transport mode has completely transformed the traditional delivery process:
- Aerial Express Route: Special takeoff/landing platforms and receiving windows are set up on both operating room and pathology department sides, building an aerial direct channel without ground connection.
- Automatic Precision Flight: Equipped with an automatic flight control system, it achieves centimeter-level precise positioning and stable flight with no manual intervention throughout the process.
- Specimen Safety Guarantee: Fitted with constant temperature and shockproof devices to ensure the integrity and testing accuracy of specimens during transport, achieving zero errors and zero accidents.
- Revolutionary Efficiency Improvement: Transport time plummeted from 20 minutes to 2 minutes, boosting efficiency by nearly 10 times and winning valuable time for intraoperative pathological diagnosis.
III. Application Results: Stable Operation for Half a Year, Benefiting Multiple Departments
The project has operated stably for half a year since its maiden flight on September 29, 2025, with remarkable achievements:
- Completed 625 flight missions in total, successfully transporting 675 specimens.
- Mainly applied in surgeries requiring rapid intraoperative pathological diagnosis, such as thyroid, breast and gastrointestinal surgeries.
- In a total laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, the UAV quickly delivered specimens, helping surgeons timely judge whether the tumor margin was clean and accurately determine the surgical resection scope, avoiding excessive treatment or insufficient resection.
- With zero errors and zero accidents, it has set a new intelligent and precise industry benchmark for low-altitude medical logistics.
IV. Future Outlook: A New Paradigm of Low-Altitude Logistics for Smart Healthcare
Relevant person in charge of Ruijin Hospital stated that the "window-to-window" UAV transport mode for pathological specimens not only improves surgical efficiency and safety, but also provides a replicable and promotable practical sample for the construction of smart hospitals.
The project team of China Unicom pointed out that the mode is expected to be promoted in tertiary hospitals nationwide. In the future, it can be expanded to more medical logistics scenarios such as drug distribution and laboratory specimen transport, helping improve the quality and efficiency of medical services and promoting the in-depth integration of low-altitude economy and smart healthcare.
(News sources: China Unicom, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, March 30, 2026)
