CHICAGO, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Several Chinese medical equipment manufacturers are catching the eyes of visitors here at an international conference of medical experts.
Shanghai-based United Imaging Healthcare Co. Ltd unveiled an MR system called uMR Omega with an ultra-wide bore of 75 cm, at the ongoing 105th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Besides increased bore size specifications, uMR Omega has increased the table weight capacity for the first time in MR imaging to 680 pounds (308 kg), meaning an improved experience for patients.
By debuting this ultra-wide MRI system, the Shanghai-based company hopes to let Chinese manufacturers better serve the North American market, the world's largest medical market, said James Xia, co-president of United Imaging Healthcare Technology Group Co., Ltd..
"The United States will be the first market to receive the uMR Omega, underscoring United Imaging's significant investment to provide access to high-quality imaging to all patients in this country," Xia said.
United Imaging entered the U.S. market in 2018. In the past year, the company has swept across 28 U.S. states and now runs four R&D centers in Houston, Cleveland, Boston and Concord in California. Houston is also home to the company's new manufacturing site, which is expected to become operational by the end of 2019.
The Shanghai-based company also has on display at the meeting its mobile digital CT machine installed in a truck, which makes CT scanning more accessible and attainable to patients.
Meanwhile, Beijing-based E-Com Technology Ltd, established in 1997, engages in developing operating systems for imaging equipment and software production systems, and has some 200 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as its customers.
"E-Com has (been) attending RSNA meetings since 2008," said Zou Lumin, CTO of E-Com.
"We are here to meet our customers. They are scattered worldwide; this is where they gather together."
GE Healthcare, the medical and healthcare arm of the U.S.' General Electric Group, is displaying at the RSNA meeting its "Revolution" Maxima CT machine in cooperation with a Chinese research team, the first time for the product to be shown in the North America market.
Equipped with an in-depth probe and an AI-powered auto-positioning scanner, the CT scanner can automatically put patients into the correct position, while a touch screen on the side panel enables doctors to view imaging results right besides the patients.
Given China's huge population and its huge market potential, GE Healthcare has built a 7,000-strong Chinese team, including more than 1,000 R&D personnel.
Among over 30 brand new imaging technologies and intelligent applications the U.S. company is displaying at the meeting is a Radiology Command Center, which is targeting the Chinese market and is expected to be available soon.
Newly developed by GE Healthcare's Chinese research team in cooperation with a hospital in Shanghai, the smart center integrates big data with smart radiology management, and is expected to allow Chinese hospitals to increase their efficiency.
Established in 1915, the RSNA is an international society of radiologists, medical physicists and other medical professionals with more than 54,000 members across the globe.
