Hitachi and Redlen Technologies Collaborate on Next-Generation Medical Photon Counting CT System

Hitachi Medical Corporation, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. and Redlen Technologies Inc., a Canadian technology company, have announced an agreement to jointly develop a direct conversion semiconductor X-ray detector module required for new photon counting computed tomography systems (PCCT), a next-generation diagnostic medical imaging modality.

Hitachi has been focusing on the healthcare field as one of the Social Innovation Business, and has extensive expertise in healthcare total solutions which include medical diagnostic and clinical devices such as CT, magnetic resonance imaging, particle beam therapy systems, and also informatics including medical service and platform. Redlen is a leading manufacturer of high resolution Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) semiconductor radiation detectors which are used in the fields of medical imaging, security and nondestructive testing.

Under this agreement, Hitachi and Redlen will collaborate to develop a new multi-energy PCCT semiconductor detector module. PCCT systems offer the potential for a breakthrough advance in CT diagnostic imaging performance through new capabilities which include material discrimination, higher image resolution, the addition of functional imaging and further radiation dose reduction.

Current commercial CT systems have limited to no knowledge of individual photon energies. Redlen has successfully developed semiconductor radiation sensors which have the ability to measure the unique energy of individual x-ray photons while operating at the very high count rates and stability levels necessary for x-ray computed tomography. The additional information provided by these advanced radiation sensors is a key to realizing next-generation PCCT advances.

Hitachi and Redlen will jointly develop the data acquisition technology required to process the order of magnitude higher amount of data received from these semiconductor radiation sensors and the packaging technology necessary for assembling the sensors into a detector module. Exclusive use of the co-developed modules will enable Hitachi to develop an advanced PCCT which fully utilizes the performance of this new sensor technology.

“We are excited to partner with Hitachi, one of the pioneers of medical CT technology, to pursue the enormous potential for advancement in medical CT that photon counting semiconductor sensors offer,” said Glenn Bindley, president/CEO of Redlen.

Hitachi and Redlen will work closely to accelerate the joint development for the new detector modules. Hitachi will investigate a wide range of new diagnostic applications for PCCT based on the clinical evaluations planned both domestically and internationally.

“PCCT is a promising next-generation device which achieves radiation exposure reduction, high functionality and high degree of precision. It is expected to broaden the field of application. I hope this agreement will provide opportunities for us to further contribute to healthcare innovation.” said Masaya Watanabe, vice president and executive officer, president and CEO of Healthcare Group and Healthcare Company at Hitachi Ltd.

Hitachi Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society’s challenges. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal 2014 (ended March 31, 2015) totaled 9,761 billion yen ($81.3 billion).

Redlen Technologies Inc., headquartered in Saanichton, British Columbia, manufactures high resolution Cadmium Zinc Telluride semiconductor radiation sensors and radiation detection modules that are enabling a new generation of high performance detection and imaging equipment including nuclear imaging, CT scanning, baggage scanning and dirty bomb detection.