Yiteng Medical Secures Tens of Millions in Series A Funding to Tackle 'Bottleneck' CT Tube Technology

VCBeat has learned that Yiteng Medical completed its RMB tens of millions Series A financing round in 2022, led by SHUN RONG CAPITAL, with participation from Jianxin Capital, Apricot Capital, WuZhong Financial Holdings, Kunshan Angel Fund, and strategic investors. DS Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor.

(Yiteng Medical Logo)

The COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years has made CT scans more familiar to the general public. In 2020 and 2021, annual CT sales volume in China exceeded 7,000 units each year. It is estimated that by the end of 2023, the installed base of CT scanners in China will approach 55,000 units. The core principle of CT involves scanning the examined area with X-rays. Its main components include the scanning system, computer system, and image reconstruction system. The scanning system forms the foundation of CT functionality and consists of a high-voltage generator and X-ray tube that produce radiation, as well as detectors that receive the radiation. Among these,The X-ray tube is the signal source of CT equipment. Its performance directly affects the image quality and service life of the CT scanner, earning it the metaphorical title of "the heart of the CT."。

Among the core components of CT scanners, high-voltage generators and detectors have achieved breakthroughs in domestic production in China, while X-ray tubes have yet to be truly localized. The reason lies in the fact that X-ray tubes operate under harsh conditions involving vacuum, high temperatures, and high-speed rotation, making it extremely difficult to maintain their stability and precision. Their development integrates cutting-edge technologies such as high-precision mechanical design, high-precision thermal design, and high-voltage resistance. The manufacturing process for X-ray tubes is also highly complex, with stringent requirements for maintaining vacuum levels, welding techniques, and assembly processes. This process demands substantial accumulation of know-how, making it exceedingly difficult to ensure consistent product quality. As a result, the domestic CT market in China remains largely monopolized by imported brands, with domestic whole-system manufacturers primarily sourcing from imported suppliers such as Dunlee and Varex.

To address this market pain point and overcome the critical "chokehold" technologies in the upstream sector of medical imaging equipment, Yiteng Medical has established an R&D and production platform for electron vacuum devices, starting with CT X-ray tubes. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Kunshan, Suzhou, the company operates independent facilities for R&D, production, and office administration. Its main products include medical CT X-ray tubes and high-end industrial X-ray tubes.

Yiteng Medical Kunshan Plant

Kunshan Yiteng Medical Technology Co., Ltd. has accumulated profound technical expertise and experience in the field of electronic vacuum technology. The founding team members all graduated from renowned universities both domestically and internationally, possessing extensive R&D and production experience in X-ray tubes. Currently, Yiteng Medical has established a supplier system, and the R&D of its first product, an X-ray tube for 32-slice CT scanners, is basically complete, with its equipment and process capabilities validated. The company is also continuously developing leading technologies such as liquid metal bearings, aiming directly at the mid-to-high-end X-ray tube market in the future. Meanwhile, it has laid out plans for industrial X-ray tube products to fill the gap in domestic offerings, with strong potential for rapid sales volume growth.