The Creator of China’s First Photon CT Revealed

In a noteworthy development for China’s high-end medical equipment sector, Neusoft Medical and United Imaging Healthcare simultaneously announced on August 26th that their Photon-Counting Computed Tomography (PCCT) systems have received market approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This has sparked a debate regarding which company lays claim to releasing the “first domestically produced PCCT” in China.

According to publicly available information within the NMPA’s medical device database, Neusoft Medical’s registration certificate is numbered 国械注准20253061693, while United Imaging Healthcare’s certificate bears the number 国械注准20253061710. Adhering to China’s medical device registration and approval numbering conventions and issuance sequence, Neusoft Medical’s product, with its preceding registration number, appears to be the first PCCT system officially approved for market release in the country.

PCCT represents one of the most significant technological advancements in CT imaging in recent years. Compared to traditional energy-integrating CT, PCCT utilizes photon-level signal acquisition and pixel-level energy spectral analysis. This enables ultra-high-resolution imaging at significantly lower radiation doses, substantially improving the detection of early-stage and minute lesions. Furthermore, it offers notable advantages in the precision quantitative analysis of spectral imaging.

The near-simultaneous approval of PCCT systems from Neusoft Medical and United Imaging Healthcare highlights the advancement of domestic high-end medical equipment manufacturers into the “deep water zone” of core technologies. It also indicates that these companies are progressively attaining the capability to compete head-to-head with international giants. Both companies have played a pivotal role in facilitating the introduction of this revolutionary technology to the Chinese market.

With domestic manufacturers, specifically Neusoft Medical, securing market access ahead of the competition, local production and service support are anticipated to substantially lower the purchase and maintenance costs of these advanced systems. This could pave the way for a wider adoption of advanced imaging technologies across Chinese hospitals. Furthermore, a self-reliant and controllable supply chain, alongside enhanced technological innovation capabilities, will strengthen the reliability and accessibility of high-end medical equipment in China significantly, thereby contributing to improved diseases’ early-stage diagnostics.