RSNA 2019: United Imaging Unveils First Overseas 'Report Card' as Chinese Smart Manufacturing Takes Root in the U.S.

From December 1 to 6, 2019, United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “United Imaging”) showcased its full product portfolio and latest innovations at the 105th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)—the world’s largest radiology congress that best represents future technological trends and the direction of industry development—and unveiled its first “annual performance report” since entering the overseas market.

For decades, China’s high-end medical equipment market relied almost exclusively on the one-way import of products and technologies from the United States, Europe, and Japan. However, over the past year, United Imaging’s overseas expansion has significantly accelerated the global reach of China’s “intelligent” manufacturing. At this year’s RSNA, United Imaging unveiled its latest achievements in global market expansion for the first time: its installations now cover nearly 4,000 medical and research institutions across 22 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, Europe, Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

United Imaging Press Conference at RSNA

As the world’s largest and most mature market for high-end medical devices, the United States has always been a focal point of competition among top multinational corporations. At the new product launch event, Jeffrey Bundy, CEO of Marketing at United Imaging’s U.S. subsidiary, presented the company’s achievements during its first year in the U.S. market: “United Imaging has obtained FDA 510(k) clearance for 22 products. Leveraging innovative technology and services, we have successfully installed our full portfolio—including PET-CT, MR, CT, and DR systems—in nearly 20 medical and research institutions across the United States, earning widespread recognition from users.” Shery Roussarie, CEO of Allied Imaging Center, stated, “United Imaging has truly understood our pain points. I cannot imagine any other company responding as promptly and providing such comprehensive support throughout the entire process as United Imaging has.”

In addition to extensive clinical collaborations, United Imaging’s research partnerships with top-tier universities are also deepening. The uEXPLORER, the world’s first total-body dynamic PET-CT system developed by United Imaging—which has attracted sustained attention and heated discussion among global nuclear medicine experts—has been installed at the specially established “Explorer Imaging Center” at the University of California, Davis. It is currently conducting a series of clinical patient scans and scientific research explorations. United Imaging has also launched a comprehensive strategic collaboration with Washington University School of Medicine, an institution associated with 17 Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine. Leveraging United Imaging’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the partnership will carry out research in areas such as cardio-oncology.

“The United States serves as the strategic foothold for United Imaging’s global expansion. By establishing a comprehensive presence in the U.S., we will gain strong momentum for our subsequent global market development,” said Xue Min, Chairman and CEO of United Imaging. “Looking ahead, we will more actively engage in global competition and collaboration. Through independent innovation and global synergy, we aim to extend the benefits of China’s intelligent manufacturing to a broader global population, continuously driving China’s high-end medical equipment industry toward higher positions in the global value chain.”

Following the establishment of its North American headquarters and four R&D centers, United Imaging’s manufacturing base in Houston is also set to commence operations, gradually enabling localized U.S. production across its full product portfolio. Additionally, United Imaging’s training center and brand showcase center in North America will soon open to the public.

At this year’s RSNA, United Imaging unveiled to the global audience for the first time the world’s first ultra-wide-bore 3.0T MRI system, the uMR Omega, and the world’s first mobile intelligent digital PET-CT scanner, significantly enhancing the accessibility of high-end medical equipment and services.

Currently, as the global prevalence of obesity continues to rise, China and the United States have become the two countries with the largest obese populations. However, due to the limited space and weight capacity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, patient experience has consistently been suboptimal, with many individuals experiencing claustrophobia and anxiety during lengthy scan procedures. United Imaging has launched the world’s first ultra-wide-bore 3.0T MRI system. Featuring a revolutionary 75cm bore—the largest in the industry—it provides patients with unprecedented spaciousness and comfort akin to “first-class” travel, thereby benefiting a broader range of individuals, including those with larger body habitus and pregnant women.

[Figure 2: United Imaging Globally Launches the World’s First Ultra-Wide-Bore 3.0T MRI System, uMR Omega]

In the United States, approximately two million PET-CT scans are performed annually. For populations in areas far from hospitals, mobile PET-CT has always been an effective means of improving access to high-end medical equipment services. However, due to technical challenges and prohibitive costs, more advanced digital PET-CT systems have historically been difficult to deploy in mobile settings. With this latest release, United Imaging has innovatively brought the digital “molecular imaging diagnostic powerhouse” into a mobile platform, enabling more people to access high-end PET-CT examinations close to home. Digital empowerment enables ultra-high-definition, rapid scanning, which will significantly support precise and efficient clinical diagnosis.

[Figure 3: United Imaging Unveils the World’s First Mobile Intelligent Digital PET-CT Globally]

As the “magnum opus” of the nuclear medicine community, United Imaging’s total-body dynamic PET-CT, the uEXPLORER, garnered global attention from its inception. To make the uEXPLORER’s cutting-edge technology more accessible and approachable, United Imaging has implemented a “comprehensive upgrade” across all its molecular imaging products. By leveraging platform-based design, the company empowers its entire product line—from entry-level to research-grade systems—achieving multiplicative improvements in diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, while significantly reducing radiation dose and costs. Building on the advantages of the “uEXPLORER Platform,” the system employs honeycomb-diced ultra-fine crystals to achieve an industry-leading resolution of 2.8 mm, faithfully reproducing true-to-life images. Powered by digital light-guide cores, it delivers an industry-highest sensitivity that is 30–40 times greater than conventional systems, ensuring even minute lesions are clearly detected. Its LEGO-style modular design offers flexibility to meet diverse clinical and research needs.

As early as two years ago, United Imaging pioneered the industry with its “Light-Shuttle Imaging Technology,” centered on compressed sensing, achieving both speed and precision. Now, empowered by AI, United Imaging has launched the next-generation intelligent Light-Shuttle Imaging platform, ACS, which doubles MRI scanning speeds once again. High-definition imaging of routine anatomical regions—including the cervical spine, lumbar spine, pelvis, hip joints, knee joints, and foot/ankle—can be completed in approximately 100 seconds, while enabling multi-sequence coverage across the entire body to fully meet clinical diagnostic needs.

At RSNA, United Imaging’s AI “breakthrough technology,” uVision, became a popular attraction. This technology leverages a single 2D camera to perform real-time 360° full-body motion capture, automatically generate 3D human models, and intelligently identify anthropometric data such as age, height, and body type. It precisely recommends scanning parameters and enables one-click automated scanning, thereby significantly enhancing physicians’ workflow efficiency and reducing their workload.