iRay Technology: China's No.1 and Global Top 5 Digital X-ray Detector Innovator Breaks Foreign Monopoly

“He is so low-key that media coverage of him is scarce; yet he is also so high-profile, having established a scholarship at his alma mater in his own name to assist impoverished students with outstanding academic and moral records. Taking an unconventional path, he leveraged his unique vision to assemble top-tier domestic talent, founded Shanghai iRay Technology Co., Ltd., and developed the ‘flat-panel detector,’ a core component of X-ray machines.”

Within three years, the domestic brand ranked first in China and among the top five globally in the field of X-ray detectors.He devoted himself to research and development, establishing China’s first full industrial chain for amorphous silicon flat-panel detectors, thereby filling a domestic gap in this field. Driven by bold ambition, he leveraged the most advanced X-ray digital imaging technologies globally to successfully break the monopoly held by European and American companies in this sector. With far-sighted vision, he expanded the company’s presence into Europe in 2013, cultivating a worldwide customer base.

This is the evaluation given by the jury to Cao Hongguang, Chairman and one of the founders of Shanghai iRay Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Shanghai iRay”), when he was named “2013 China Science Annual News Figure” (an event organized by China Science Daily, the Popular Science Department of the China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese Society of Science and Technology Journalism, among others).

Despite being the leading company in China’s flat-panel detector sector, it remains relatively unknown to the public. Driven by curiosity, VCBeat conducted an interview and published a report on Shanghai Yirui.

What is a flat-panel detector? This was the first question the reporter posed to Cao Hongguang. “To answer that, we must start with Digital Radiography (DR),” Cao Hongguang explained. DR is a new X-ray imaging technology developed in the 1990s. Due to its significant advantages—including faster imaging speed, more convenient operation, lower radiation dose, and higher image resolution—it has gained recognition from clinical institutions and radiology experts worldwide. It has been widely adopted in the medical field and, in recent years, has gradually expanded into industrial non-destructive testing and security screening applications.

The technical core of DR equipment is the Flat Panel Detector (FPD). The FPD is a sophisticated and high-value device that integrates multidisciplinary technologies, including software and hardware design, underlying platform architecture, digital display, image processing, data readout, and even material fabrication. With an exceptionally high technological barrier, it plays a decisive role in determining both the imaging quality and the cost of the entire DR system.。

Flat-panel detectors can be classified into amorphous silicon flat-panel detectors and amorphous selenium flat-panel detectors based on their energy conversion mechanisms. Amorphous selenium flat-panel detectors have certain limitations in technology and application, such as low conversion efficiency at the X-ray energy levels used in conventional radiography, and high sensitivity to temperature and humidity fluctuations, which makes them prone to damage.

Amorphous silicon flat-panel detectors are recognized as the mainstream products in the current market due to their fast imaging speed, high image quality, and excellent stability. Global leading medical device system manufacturers, such as GPS (a collective term for General Electric, Philips, and Siemens), all utilize amorphous silicon flat-panel detectors, which also constitute iRay Technology’s primary product line at present.

As the demand for filmless, digital transformation of medical imaging grows in the market, the demand for flat-panel detectors is also increasing.Cao Hongguang told VCBeat that China has an installed base of approximately 170,000 X-ray machines of various models, among which only 10,000 to 20,000 are digital devices; the rest are non-digital imaging equipment that will gradually be phased out or upgraded. In addition, China’s annual production volume of complete DR (Digital Radiography) systems is 6,000–7,000 units, with an average annual growth rate exceeding 30%. These new complete systems require flat-panel detectors during manufacturing.

Prior to 2010, the core technologies of flat-panel detectors were primarily dominated by leading foreign manufacturerssuch as Trixell (France), Varian (United States), and Canon (Japan)Controlled and monopolized by these manufacturers, flat-panel detectors used in domestic medical equipment are heavily reliant on imports. Domestic complete-system manufacturers lack bargaining power over flat-panel detectors, with the price of a single unit reaching as high as RMB 900,000.

Although a very small number of companies in China have begun the research, development, and production of flat-panel detectors, their inability to independently master core technologies and distribution channels has kept costs prohibitively high, preventing them from forming effective competition with foreign manufacturers.

Cao Hongguang studied medicine during both his undergraduate and graduate years, and he practiced as a physician for several years after graduation. However, driven by personal interest, he began engaging with the electronics field while still in school and demonstrated strong hands-on abilities. For instance, whenever the television at home broke down, Cao Hongguang would repair it himself using a soldering iron.

The Serendipitous Intersection of Medicine and Electronics, which led Cao Hongguang to shift his focus to the research and development of medical devices. During his tenure as Vice Chairman and General Manager of Beijing Sinopharm Hengrui Meilian Information Technology Co., Ltd., Cao Hongguang engaged in research on CCD image sensors and led his team to successfully develop China’s first flat-panel angiography system and flat-panel DR systems with independent intellectual property rights.

It is against this backdrop of experience, coupled with the immense market appeal of flat-panel detectors,In 2010, Cao Hongguang co-founded Shanghai Yirui with several like-minded industry experts who possessed extensive experience in detector physics, semiconductor physics, microelectronics, electronics, clinical medical applications, investment and financing, and market promotion.

Yirui’s R&D and Marketing Headquarters is located in the “Golden Collar Capital” of Jinqiao, Pudong, Shanghai, while its production facilities are situated in the East Zhangjiang Medical Device Park, Pudong, Shanghai. As an innovative high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D and manufacturing of amorphous silicon flat-panel detectors, Yirui is committed to serving customers with cutting-edge international X-ray digital imaging technology, providing high-quality flat-panel detectors and digital imaging solutions.

One year after its establishment, Shanghai Yirui had already developed the independent capability to manufacture amorphous silicon X-ray detectors, breaking the international technological monopoly on flat-panel detectors and successfully developing China’s first amorphous silicon flat-panel detector.

To further master the complete technical know-how of flat-panel detectors and secure a commanding position in both technology and cost, iRay Technology launched its scintillator project at the end of 2012. The company established a comprehensive production line for the key material cesium iodide (CsI), covering equipment, materials, manufacturing processes, and recycling. This milestone signifies that iRay Technology has successfully integrated all segments of the flat-panel detector value chain—from materials to components, and from R&D to manufacturing and sales—thereby building China’s first full industrial chain for amorphous silicon flat-panel detectors.

To date, iRay has filed for over 150 independent intellectual property rights in China, the United States, and Germany, with more than 80 already granted. The company has achieved commercial sales across multiple series of flat-panel detectors, including static, dynamic, wireless, and mammography models. Its performance metrics are on par with international competitors, and the test performance of certain products even surpasses the average level of leading global competitors.

In response to VCBeat’s inquiry about how iRay Technology achieved the market position of No. 1 in China and No. 5 globally within just a few years of its establishment, Cao Hongguang emphasized not only the company’s strong R&D team and rapid response capabilities but also highlighted iRay’s precise strategic market planning.

At the time of iRay’s founding, there were already more than ten similar companies in the market.The dominant players in the Chinese and global markets are primarily France’s Trixell, U.S.-based Varian, Japan’s Toshiba, Canon, and other enterprises. Established in 1998 as a joint venture by Siemens, Philips, and Thales, Trixell mainly manufactures high-end flat-panel detectors, which are sold to companies such as Siemens and Philips.

Varian has been established in this field for five to six decades and, in addition to its X-ray flat-panel detector business, also serves as a supplier of X-ray sources. In contrast to these industry giants, iRay is a newcomer with little recognition.

In a market dominated by established industry giants, it is extremely difficult for iRay to secure domestic orders. In the early stages, Chinese medical device companies placed greater emphasis on the brand reputation and historical track record of core component manufacturers, making it challenging for emerging domestic brands to gain rapid market entry.

In contrast,Medical device markets in Europe and the United States are highly mature, with comprehensive regulatory frameworks. Overseas manufacturers and end-user markets tend to select partners based primarily on technical specifications and product performance. Confident in its product capabilities, iRay Technology decided to prioritize entry into international markets.

Through continuous sample submissions and rigorous product testing, combined with the advantages of a localized supply chain and efficient service, iRay has earned the trust and collaboration of leading global system OEMs and partners, successfully bringing Chinese-made products to the international market.

On the other hand,When iRay’s products entered the U.S. market, it coincided with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act under President Obama. Considering cost and reimbursement issues, U.S. hospitals and clinics prioritized iRay’s high-performance, cost-effective products. In this way, iRay gradually expanded into overseas markets, gaining brand recognition and customer trust. With endorsements from international manufacturers, iRay also progressively strengthened its position in the domestic Chinese market.

In recent years, iRay’s products have gained recognition from China’s top ten X-ray system manufacturers through reliable technology and services, establishing the company as the industry leader in China.