For Authors

Before submission, please carefully read this guide to ensure your manuscript meets our requirements and standards.

1. Journal Introduction and Coverage

Journal Mission

FHS is rooted in the health philosophy of “Future Medical Technology Leading Precision and Minimally Invasive Treatment”, dedicated to publishing cutting-edge research findings that promote the synergistic advancement of minimally invasive techniques, intelligent healthcare, and human health and well-being.

Aims and Scope

FHS welcomes submissions of interdisciplinary research findings on the following topics or other issues related to minimally invasive medicine and surgical technology:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery Data Innovation and Intelligent Analysis: including the development of novel datasets, data-driven surgical insights, and AI-powered analytical models.
• Development and Clinical Translation of Novel Surgical Instruments and Robotic Systems: focusing on the design, prototyping, pre-clinical evaluation, and first-in-human studies of new tools and robotic platforms.
• Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Technologies and Surgical Process Optimization: research on AI-assisted diagnosis, surgical planning, navigation systems, and workflow optimization in the operating room.
• Surgical Risk Assessment and Prognostic Data Application: development of novel predictive models, risk calculators, and their application in personalized patient management and long-term outcome analysis.
• Intraoperative Real-Time Monitoring Technologies and Equipment Development: advancements in sensors, imaging, and other technologies for real-time physiological and anatomical feedback during surgery.
• Evaluation of the Application Effectiveness of Minimally Invasive Treatment Protocols: assessing the impact, mechanisms, and clinical outcomes of minimally invasive techniques compared to traditional approaches.

2. Article Type and Writing Requirements

To meet the needs of disseminating different research findings, FHS accepts various types of submissions. Please select the appropriate type based on the content of your research.

Research Article

Reports original research findings that demonstrate authenticity and reliability of data, rigorous study design, and significant originality with potential disciplinary advancement. The work should present novel results that have not been published previously. Conclusions should be clearly stated and fully supported by the data presented.

• Word Limit: 4,000–8,000 words
• Figures and Tables: up to 8 (grouped charts count as 1)
• Appendix: may include detailed methods, raw data tables, supplementary analyses, and other relevant materials.
• Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Introduction - Materials and Methods - Results - Discussion and Conclusion - References

Review Article

Systematically summarize global advances, emerging trends, key challenges, and future directions within minimally invasive medicine and surgical technology, based on authoritative literature. They provide objective, critical, and insightful analysis to guide researchers and clinicians, offering a clear overview of recent progress and its broader implications. References must be balanced and representative, and unpublished data should not be included.

• Word Limit: 5,000–8,000 words
• Figures and Tables: up to 6
• Appendix: may include literature search strategies, list of included articles, etc.
• Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Introduction - Main body chapters (with subheadings) - Future perspective - Conclusion - Acknowledgements - References

Editorial

An excellent way to share perspectives or advocate for ideas with readers. A well-crafted editorial not only raises public awareness of an issue but also shapes how people perceive it. Mastering the art of writing compelling editorials empowers you to amplify your voice, spark community discussions, or advocate for specific groups.

• Word Limit: 800–1,500 words
• Figures and Tables: generally not included
• Appendix: generally not included
• Structure: Title - Body - Reference

Short Communication

Rapid reporting of highly innovative preliminary findings, novel methods or discoveries, aiming for conciseness, highlighting the core content, with priority given to innovative results with significant application potential.

• Word Limit: 2,000–3,000 words
• Figures and Tables: up to 4
• Appendix: generally not included; simplified supplementary materials may be provided when necessary.
• Structure: Title - Abstract (brief summary) - Keywords - Introduction - Methods - Results and Discussion (combined) - Conclusion - References

Commentary

Authoritative experts in the field provide original, forward-looking, and guiding insights on significant disciplinary events, policies and regulations, key technological breakthroughs, or controversial issues, steering the direction of disciplinary development.

• Word Limit: 1,500–2,500 words
• Figures and Tables: up to 2
• Appendix: generally not included
• Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Introduction - Main body (can expand around the core argument) - Outlook and suggestions - References

Technical Breakthrough and Case Analysis

Focuses on the detailed reporting of a novel technical innovation or a complex, instructive clinical case. The content must be accurate, timely, and provide objective insights into the technology's application or the case's learning points for the surgical community.

• Word Limit: 1,500–3,000 words
• Figures and Tables: Up to 5, with a focus on illustrative images or surgical video stills.
• Appendix: May include a surgical video highlight.
• Structure: Title - Abstract (brief summary) - Keywords - Introduction - Technical Details / Case Presentation - Discussion - Conclusion - References

Letter to Editor

Intended to provide comments, questions, or supplements on recently published articles in journals, or to offer concise and incisive insights on specific research hotspots or academic controversies within the field. The content must possess academic value, and the tone should be rigorous, polite, and objective.

• Word Limit: 1,500–2,500 words
• Figures and Tables: generally not included
• Appendix: generally not included
• Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Body (Opening, Argumentation, Closing) - References

3. Submission Guide

Authors may submit new manuscripts via https://srp.icjn.net/login.

The status of a submission can be checked at any time by logging into the submission platform and selecting the “My Submissions” section.

For any inquiries regarding submissions, please contact fhs@icjn.net.

Please review the Submission Guide below before submitting the manuscripts.

Author Checklist

Cover Letter:

• Submission title and Article Type (first submission or revision).
• Summarize the key findings of the study in 3–5 short sentences (similar to "highlights").
• All authors declare that they consent to the submission of the manuscript.
• Statement that the manuscript has not been published or submitted in any form or place.
• Declare that all reproduced charts and data have been authorized by the copyright owner.
• Declare that the manuscript meets the word count requirements in this guideline.
• Conflict of interest statement.

• Main Manuscript File: contains the full text, figures, references, any statements relating to our ethics and integrity policies, which may include any of the following: conflict of interest disclosure, permission to reproduce material from other sources, participant consent statement, ethics approval statement, data availability statement, funding statement, etc.
• Supplementary Materials (if applicable): include data, figures, methods, videos, etc. that are non-essential for understanding the main text. All supplementary materials must undergo peer review.
• Author Profile: name, affiliation, mailing address, and official email, along with a brief academic summary (typically including research focus and representative achievements, limited to 100–150 words). The biography should outline your primary research interests and representative achievements.
• All manuscripts must have at least one author providing an ORCID.

Text and Image Abstract

A text-and-image abstract is a visual representation of a text abstract. Similar to the textual abstract, it must strictly adhere to the paper's content and should not include any new data or information not found in the main text. Additionally, the graphic must not contain photographs, paintings, or cartoons of living or deceased individuals, nor any national stamps, currencies, or trademark items (such as company logos, images, or products).

To keep it concise, avoid repeating the text and images in the summary, and do not add titles, captions, or notes. The size should be within one-third of an A4 paper.

Check before submission:

• Clarity: the resolution is correct, with no blur, stretching, or pixelation.
• Format: .jpg or .tif, 300dpi
• File: do not embed Word documents. Upload the original high-resolution file separately.
• Copyright: if the content includes third-party copyrighted graphics, the original publisher or copyright holder must provide a license.

Manuscript Format and Structure (First Submission)

When submitting your first manuscript, insert all figures and tables near their first appearance to facilitate reviewers' reading, and assign continuous line numbers and page numbers to the manuscript. The manuscript should include the following sections in the specified order:

1. Title: include a concise title, all authors' names, institutions, addresses, and the corresponding author's official email.
2. Abstract: 200–300 words; structured format (background, purpose, methods, results, conclusions). If it is a registered study (e.g., clinical trial), the trial registration number must be specified. References should not be cited.
3. Keywords: up to 8.
4. Introduction: investigates the research background, scientific questions, existing limitations, and objectives.
5. Materials and Methods: A detailed description is required to ensure reproducibility of the experiment/surgical procedure. Statistical analysis methods and ethical approval statements (including the full name of the approving authority and the ethical approval number) must be included.
6. Results: the data were presented objectively, and the charts and text were complementary to avoid duplication with the discussion.
7. Discussion: explain the significance of the results, compare with existing literature, point out the limitations of the study, and propose future prospects.
8. Conclusion: the core findings and their value should be summarized concisely.
9. Other Required Sections: include author contributions (CRediT), data availability, ethics approval statement, funding statement, conflict of interest, AI usage disclosure, acknowledgments, and references in order.
10. Supplementary Materials (if necessary), Appendices, etc.

4. Authorship and Contribution Statement

Authorship

All listed authors should meet all four of the following criteria:

• Made substantive contributions to the conception, design, or data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the study;
• Drafted or made key revisions to important academic content in the article;
• Final approval of the final version;
• Agree to be responsible for all aspects of the work and to ensure that issues related to the accuracy or integrity of the work are properly investigated and resolved.

Individuals who only obtain funding, provide technical support, or offer general administrative assistance should not be listed as authors.

Responsibilities of the Corresponding Author

The corresponding author serves as the primary contact for the journal throughout the peer review and publication process. Their core responsibilities include: maintaining full communication during all stages of submission, peer review, revision, and publication; coordinating and ensuring the completeness and compliance of key documents such as ethical approval, informed consent, data declarations, and conflict of interest statements; confirming that all authors have reviewed and agreed to the final manuscript version; providing academic consultations post-publication and offering original data for verification when requested by the journal; and ultimately assuming management responsibility for the authenticity of the author list, authorship order, and individual contributions. Therefore, the corresponding author bears full responsibility for the academic integrity and ethical standards of the manuscript.

Author Contribution

We encourage authors to use the CRediT taxonomy to clearly delineate the specific contributions of each author in the manuscript. The author's identity must satisfy the aforementioned authorship criteria.

5. Data Availability Statement

To ensure the verifiability and transparency of the study. Your statement must be clear and verifiable. Please select or refer to one of the following templates based on your specific circumstances:

1. Fully open data (recommended)

The datasets generated and/or analyzed in this study have been deposited in [repository name], with the permanent identifier/login number: [DOI/accession No.].

2. Data can be requested

The de-identified raw data may be obtained from [corresponding author/third party name] upon obtaining ethics committee approval and signing a data usage agreement. The data is available for [number of years] starting from [date]. (Additional permission from the third party is required if the data originates from a third party.)

3. Data is restricted and cannot be published

Due to [privacy/ethics/commercial confidentiality/project ongoing], the data supporting the findings of this study cannot be publicly shared. Researchers meeting the access criteria may contact the [corresponding author/institutional review board] for consultation on eligibility.

6. Research Ethics

Human Research Ethics

Comply with the ethical standards of the relevant institutional or regional ethics committee and the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki (as amended in October 2024), in particular the guiding principles on human subjects and informed consent.

• Ethical Approval: Written approval from the ethics committee must be obtained, and the full name of the committee, approval number, and approval date must be indicated in the manuscript.
• Clinical Trial Registration: All interventional clinical trials must be registered on public platforms (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR) prior to initiating subject recruitment, with the registration name and number clearly indicated.
• Informed Consent: Written informed consent must be obtained from participants (or their legal guardians for case reports/surgical videos) and provided as required.
• Privacy Protection: The manuscript must not contain any information that could identify the patient's personal identity. All images (faces, surgical photos, videos, etc.) must undergo complete de-identification.

Animal Research Ethics

All animal experiments must adhere to the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and the ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines. Approval from the Animal Ethics Committee (IACUC) is mandatory, and the committee name, approval number, and approval date must be specified in the manuscript. Additionally, detailed descriptions of the animal strain, source, sex, age, breeding environment, anesthesia and analgesia protocols, humane endpoints, and euthanasia methods are required.

7. Funding Statement

If this study has received financial support, please include an independent "Funding Statement" section at the end of the text and before the references, specifying the funding source. If multiple grants are involved, list them individually. Please provide the full official name of the funding institution and, where possible, include the specific project approval number, contract number, or grant number. Example:

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Approval No.: 82172655) and the European Research Council (Grant No.: ERC-2020-AdG-101021417).

8. Conflict of Interest

To ensure the objectivity and impartiality of research data and viewpoints, FHS requires all authors involved in writing the paper to submit a declaration if there are any conflicts of interest. Potential conflicts of interest include: employment relationships, consulting services, stock holdings, remuneration, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and funding or other resources that may influence the conclusions of this study.

9. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

FHS adheres to the guidelines of the International Committee on Publishing Ethics (COPE) regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. To ensure academic integrity and publishing ethics, we have established the following regulations for the use of AI technologies:

For the Authors

AI tools shall not be disclosed when their use is solely for improving language expression or readability. However, if an AI application may influence research outcomes or conclusions (including but not limited to content/data/image analysis, experimental design, information extraction or synthesis), it is strictly prohibited to modify original research data or adjust images to alter the original meaning. Authors shall bear full responsibility for the completeness, accuracy, and originality of the manuscript, and all AI-generated content must undergo rigorous review by the authors.

For Editors and Reviewers

To protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and the peer review process, neither editors nor reviewers may upload any part of the manuscript or review report to unauthorized AI tools. If FHS detects the misuse of AI-generated review comments, it may discontinue inviting the reviewer to participate in subsequent work.

10. Acknowledgements

The acknowledgments section should include the funding agencies that provided additional resources and their project numbers. Individuals who contributed to the study but whose contributions were insufficient to qualify them as authors should also be listed in this section.

11. Reference Format

References must be publicly accessible, up-to-date, and critically relevant. Unpublished materials, abstracts, or personal communications are not allowed. All citations in the text must correspond one-to-one with the reference list at the end. This format is most commonly used in the fields of biomedicine, pharmacy, and life sciences, employing Arabic numerals for numbering, e.g., [1][2]. Below are some common examples of references:

• Standard Journal Articles:
  Wang L, Zhang J, Li Y. Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy versus open surgery: a propensity score-matched analysis. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2023;15(2):891-902.
• Group Authors:
  The International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery. Postoperative pancreatic fistula: definition grading. Surgery. 2024;175(3):612-620.
• Volume Includes:
  Chen X, Liu H, Wang S. Application of augmented reality navigation in laparoscopic hepatectomy: a pilot study. Surgical Endoscopy. 2022;36(3):1785-1792.
• No Volume or Issue Number:
  Global Surgical Robot Market: Current Status and Trend Analysis. Medical Device News. December 2023:1-8.
• Books:
  Satava, R. M. (2021). The future of surgery: Robotics and beyond. Springer.
• Website:
  The Da Vinci Surgery Community. (2025). Patient resources for robotic surgery. Retrieved March 5, 2026, from https://www.davincisurgery.com/

12. Open Access and Copyright Policy

FHS is an open-access journal, and articles are freely accessible to global readers upon publication.

• Copyright: The author retains full copyright of the article.
• License Agreement: This article is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by default. This means any third party may copy and distribute the work provided they credit the original author, include a license link, and specify whether modifications are permitted. No use shall imply endorsement by the journal or author.

Advantages of Open Access Journal

• Enhanced article visibility, impact, and citations
• Free access for all researchers with no subscription
• Avoidance of duplicate research
• Wider indexing and easier retrievability
• Greater public understanding of science & medical research, and accelerated tech innovation
• Improved journal impact factor

13. Academic Misconduct and Its Handling

FHS adheres to the principle of integrity in publishing all manuscripts, and the relationships with authors, reviewers, and editors are built on trust. However, any concerns regarding potential ethical violations will undergo preliminary evaluation; if necessary, formal investigations will be initiated.

• Plagiarism Detection Criteria: Use similarity-detection software for plagiarism detection. The overall text similarity should be <20% (excluding common terms, legal provisions, and formulas). Manuscripts exceeding this standard must be revised and resubmitted.
• Handling Measures: Once the allegations are deemed credible, the investigation procedure will be initiated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code of Practice for Editors (COPE), which includes: consulting with the journal editor or editorial board members; contacting the author to clarify the issues and provide an opportunity for response; contacting the author's affiliated institution or funding organization if institutional inquiries or information requests are required; and seeking independent expert opinions when necessary to ensure the fairness and objectivity of the review process.

14. Preprint Policy

FHS permits authors to post their manuscripts on preprint servers (e.g., arXiv, medRxiv): preprints may be released before submission, during peer review, or after acceptance; preprints must clearly indicate that the manuscript has been submitted/accepted by FHS; preprints shall not replace the final published version.