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From first successful X-ray imaging to first domestically-produced Radiography system

X-ray system commercialized in under two years

German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays in November 1895. News of his discovery reached Japan the following February, and Professor Han’ichi Muraoka and colleagues at the Third Higher School (today’s Kyoto University) immediately embarked on experiments. At the same time, Genzo Jr. and younger brother Genkichi worked to create a more powerful version of the Wimshurst electrostatic generator, one that could serve as a power supply for Radiography system. This was the start of Shimadzu’s involvement in medical system.

In October 1896, Genzo Jr. successfully imaged objects with X-rays, and in 1897 commercialized a radiography system for educational use. The opportunity to actually conduct experimental work using X-rays sparked major interest among educators, and Genzo’s system proved useful in many teaching settings.

Radiography system becomes popular even in small hospitals

The radiography system imports began in the 1900s, but access to suitably rated power supplies remained limited in Japan. Direct access to power plants was also rarely available.

In response, Genzo Jr. set out to put radiography system into widespread use through two approaches: storage batteries and power supplied from power plants.

In September 1909, Japan’s first domestically-produced DC radiography system for medical use was finally completed and delivered to the Kohnodai Army Garrison Hospital, in Chiba Prefecture. In 1910, Shimadzu delivered enhanced X-ray generators to private hospitals in Yonezawa City and Toyohashi City.

In 1911, Shimadzu completed Japan's first large-scale medical radiography system designed for AC power, delivering it to the Japanese Red Cross Otsu Hospital in Shiga Prefecture.

In 1913, the Coolidge-type X-ray generation tube was invented in the U.S. This new tube greatly enhanced the performance of Radiography system, leading to progress in miniaturization. Shimadzu’s Diana and New Aurora radiography systems, launched in 1918, were lighter and more compact thanks to the Coolidge tube, and could be used in private clinics as well as large hospitals. The Diana and New Aurora were also exported, and were evaluated highly.

Ensuring safety for healthcare professionals as well as patients
A world-first, epochal development

Responding to medical frontline needs

“Would it be possible to use image intensifier technology to create an X-ray television system with the operator in a separate room?” This query, from Dr. Hajime Matsuda of the Osaka Prefectural Center for Adult Diseases (today’s Osaka International Cancer Institute), led to a major advance in the level of safety offered by Shimadzu's Radiography system.

The first X-ray television systems released in Europe and the U.S. were operated by medical technicians from the patient's bedside. Shimadzu’s goal was to utilize X-ray image intensifier (XRII) tubes—electron tubes that convert X-rays to visible light—to enhance fluoroscopic images, reduce patient radiation exposure, and allow healthcare professionals to control the system from a separate location.

To make the potential of image intensification technology more accessible to society, Shimadzu launched a research and development effort in 1954 using technical reference materials from America’s Westinghouse Electric Corporation, one of the developers of XRII.

The world’s first remote-controlled X-ray television system

At the time, X-ray television systems produced in Europe and America required the healthcare professional to monitor the fluoroscope screen while close to the patient. This meant that the healthcare professional was also exposed to X-rays during the examination. Dr. Matsuda’s goal was to eliminate this exposure entirely by fully controlling the system from a separate room. This goal was also a sincere wish of all healthcare professionals.

In response, Shimadzu embarked on development in collaboration with Matsushita Electric Industrial (today’s Panasonic), which was responsible for fluoroscope screen design and production.

After years of effort, the world's first remote-controlled X-ray television system was completed early in 1961. This device, which eliminated radiation exposure for healthcare professionals, was hailed on the healthcare frontline. Shimadzu was also first in the world to develop a system for lowering hospital beds to make it safer for patients to get on and off during examinations, a technology that has become ubiquitous. By staying close to the medical front line, Shimadzu has made a wide range of ideas reality, and we continue to make examinations and treatment more friendly for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Sharper radiographic images, more efficient operation
Medical Radiography system never stops evolving

Flat panel detector: a dream device

Radiography system is used not only as a diagnostic tool, but also in treatment. Potential applications for radiographic images and system are endless, making diagnosis increasingly convenient by revealing the smallest details in real time, making treatment safer, and accelerating treatment times.

The average person has probably experienced a radiographic examination of the chest and lungs, or perhaps the bones, but X-ray imaging also plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of blood vessels throughout the body, including the heart and head. Angiography, for example, involves inserting a catheter into a blood vessel and injecting a contrast medium that produces an image of the blood vessel.

While angiography systems using image intensifiers had long played an important role, diagnostic imaging device manufacturers embarked in the 1990s on research and development relating to digital Flat Panel Detectors (FPD), digital image sensors that serve a similar function to XRIIs. The goal was to produce an advanced diagnostic device with the ability to deliver photographic (still) as well as fluoroscopic (moving) images using a single detector. Shimadzu accepted the challenge and set out to develop the most advanced technology, one that would dramatically enhance image resolution.

In 2003, after years of trial and error, challenges and difficulties, Shimadzu introduced a vascular angiography system that was first in the world to put direct-conversion FPD to practical use. In April of that year, Shimadzu conducted a live demonstration for cardiologists at Kokura Memorial Hospital in Kyushu. The doctors were amazed and impressed by the system’s blood vessel imaging, displayed in real time, and commented that they had never seen such clear images.

Lightening the burden on healthcare professionals and facilities

As we continue to enhance patient safety and reduce the burden of diagnostics and treatment, Shimadzu is also working to promote operational efficiency on the busy medical frontline.

Our newest angiography system, launched in 2022, offers completely updated function and design. Its greatest advantage is that the system can now be controlled by a single operator, with shorter diagnostic and treatment times and higher efficiency.

We have also introduced a subscription contract system. Our angiography system can play a role in multiple medical departments, in applications such as head, chest and abdominal imaging. But since medical facilities differ in terms of specialties and size, we have made it possible for users to update only the applications they need. In this way, we are helping medical providers to offer the most advanced care as well as optimize their management.

For patients undergoing diagnostics and treatment, for healthcare professionals using Radiography system, Shimadzu is always looking for new ways to deliver better healthcare—and our passion and effort will continue, today and tomorrow.