CHENGDU, Jan. 17 -- Patients at a hospital in southwest China's Sichuan Province now only need to bring themselves -- no need to carry cash or cards, or even remember pin codes -- when paying for medical bills.

According to the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, an infrared camera inside their scanners can obtain images of intravenous veins in fingers. Each patient's unique vein pattern is linked to their medical cards.

"As veins are hidden inside our bodies, their unique biometric information can't be copied or stolen, and will not change with age, environment, job or mental state," said Lei Shundong, chief engineer of the medical information center of the hospital.

The new method greatly improves settlement efficiency, doesn't require any complicated identification procedures on mobile apps or with banks, and reduces the risk of leaked medical card information and bank card fraud, the hospital said.