Cyclotron for PET

What is PET?

Positron emission tomography, or PET, is a method used for diagnosing cancer and other conditions by measuring changes in metabolism and blood flow in the body. A drug called fluorodeoxyglucose, or FDG, used to check the metabolism of glucose, is administered and its distribution is measured during an examination for cancer, since cancer cells tend to have a more active metabolism of glucose than healthy cells. This method enables the detection of small tumors earlier than with conventional X-ray computed tomography or X-ray CT scans. This method also makes it possible to identify whether such tumors are malignant or benign. Since an examination using this method can be performed on the entire body in a single session, requiring only a short period of time (approximately 30 minutes), it can easily be used to examine the elderly and people with a diminished physical capacity.

Examinations are performed with a procedure like the following:

		Radioactive isotopes (RI) with a short half-life are produced using an accelerator (cyclotron).
		Medical agents containing RI combined with glucose or amino acids are administered into the body.
		The distribution radiation emitted internally in the body is captured with a PET camera for diagnosis.

We manufacture and sell PET medical agent synthesizers and cyclotrons that produce RI.

What can be examined with PET?

Although cancer diagnosis is becoming the mainstream application at the present time, the research and development of PET medical agents is being conduced quite actively and with these efforts PET's applications are spreading to the examination of brain and heart maladies. Brain examinations are being used for early diagnosis of cerebral infarction and Alzheimer's disease. Glucose metabolism and blood flow are measured in a heart examination to observe cardiac muscular activity, in order to make effective treatment decisions.

Compact cyclotron for PET HM-12S

Compact cyclotron for PET Cypris HM-18

The only manufacturer with approval to produce products for medical applications

We manufacture and sell the Cypris series of compact cyclotrons for PET, as well as various synthesizers for PET medical agents.

We provide three models of cyclotrons for PET to suit the needs of our customers, which constitute approximately 60% of the Japanese market at the present time. We are the only manufacturer in Japan to have received approval from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to manufacture synthesizers for FDG medical agents. This approval is required for diagnostic work conducted using these products to be eligible for medical insurance coverage. The advantages of our company include our provision of comprehensive services to medical institutions following the delivery of our products, through such means as providing maintenance services and the dispatch of operators.

Applicable Markets

The examination of tumors (lung cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer, head and neck cancer, brain tumors, pancreatic cancer, malignant lymphoma, metastatic cancer, cancers of unknown origin, and malignant melanoma) by FDG became eligible for coverage under Japanese National Health Insurance from April 2002. This brought about a surge of recognition for PET as an effective means for early detection and accurate diagnosis, which resulted in a wave of PET facility installations in private hospitals throughout Japan. Starting from the year 2000 such facilities were planned at an annual rate of 10 to 15 institutions. Ten or more such facilities are expected to be installed during fiscal 2002.

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