TOKYO, September 2, 2009—Canon Inc. today announced the achievement of a medical equipment manufacturing milestone as cumulative production of the company’s CXDI digital radiography systems surpassed the 10,000-unit mark. The accomplishment was reached over a period of ten years and nine months, beginning with the launch of the CXDI-11 in December 1998.

Canon began research and development on X-ray imaging sensors in 1993, leading to the introduction in December 1998 of the world’s first digital radiography system, the CXDI-11, equipped with Canon’s proprietary LANMIT (Large Area New MIS Sensor and TFT) flat-panel detector. In addition to making possible the confirmation of an on-screen preview image in approximately three seconds following exposure, the CXDI-11 also enabled the transmission of examination orders and the sharing of image data over intra-hospital networks. The system created a stir in the industry with its range of groundbreaking features not found in conventional radiography systems.

Canon went on to build a comprehensive DR system product lineup with the introduction of such models as the Bucky-type CXDI-22, launched in September 2000; the CXDI-31, the world’s first portable DR system, released in September 2001; the portable CXDI-50G launched in December 2003, featuring a large imaging area; and the CXDI-40C, also launched in December 2003, equipped with a Cesium Iodide (CsI) scintillator that delivers high sensitivity while reducing X-ray exposure for the patient.

Canon’s CXDI series of DR systems have been lauded by members of the medical community and research institutions for their rapid-display capability, high image quality, and high reliability. Accordingly, the systems have been installed at countless medical and healthcare facilities worldwide. In 2005, the company’s large-area sensor for real-time digital X-ray imaging was awarded Japan’s prestigious Imperial Invention Prize, the highest honor of the National Commendation for Invention.

Additionally, the CXDI-50G and other Canon compact, lightweight DR systems, which offer outstanding portability, have proven invaluable in such areas as home healthcare and disaster relief missions. The CXDI-50G was used after the earthquake that struck central China's Sichuan Province in 2008 in the examination of a survivor rescued after 139 hours buried under rubble. These compact systems have also contributed to an expanded range of applications for digital radiography in fields outside of conventional medicine, including the examination of animals, such as the checking of leg injuries on racing horses, and the inspection of artifacts and other remains at archaeological excavation sites.

Canon is now working on the development of a new portable flat-panel DR system capable of both viewing dynamic and capturing static X-ray images with plans to enter the medical fluoroscopic device market.

Taking advantage of its proprietary sensor and imaging technologies, Canon aims to realize further market expansion by maximizing the performance of DR systems that combine dynamic-image viewing and static image capture, while also enhancing the company’s overall DR system lineup. Additionally, through the promotion of filmless X-ray procedures at healthcare facilities and provision of strong support for monitor diagnosis, the company intends to contribute to improved diagnostic accuracy and more efficient examination procedures.

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For further information please contact Richard Berger (tel: 03-5482-8055; fax: 03-5482-5130; e-mail: richard.berger@canon.co.jp) or Benjamin Milam (tel: 03-5482-3805; fax: 03-5482-5130; e-mail: milam.benjamin@canon.co.jp).

Cumulative Production

* 2009 figures as of end of August