China's first photon-counting spectral CT has been approved for market launch, marking a major breakthrough for United Imaging Healthcare.

**China's First Photon-Counting Spectral CT Approved for Market Launch, U-Scan Medical Achieves Major Breakthrough**

On August 26, 2025, China’s medical technology sector achieved a milestone breakthrough. The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) officially approved uCT Ultima, China’s first photon-counting spectral CT independently developed by United Imaging Healthcare, for market launch. This groundbreaking advancement not only highlights China’s remarkable achievements in the field of high-end medical imaging equipment but also underscores the fruitful outcomes of the "Photon-Counting Spectral CT R&D" key project under the National Key R&D Program during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Photon-counting spectral CT, hailed as the next-generation CT technology garnering significant industry attention, boasts revolutionary advantages thanks to its integration of semiconductor detectors. Compared to conventional CT systems, it delivers superior spatial resolution imaging, enables direct multi-energy spectral imaging, and reduces radiation doses significantly. This groundbreaking technology is set to dramatically enhance the precision of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, offering patients a safer, more efficient medical imaging experience. However, due to high technological barriers, only two foreign companies worldwide have so far succeeded in commercializing photon-counting spectral CT. United Imaging Healthcare’s recent achievement has undoubtedly shattered this dominance, positioning the company as a global leader—and now a pioneer—in photon-counting spectral CT technology, both in China and beyond.

As a leading Chinese enterprise in high-end medical imaging equipment, United Imaging Healthcare has actively taken on national research missions by successfully bidding for a key project under the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Key R&D Programs. In collaboration with institutions such as Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University and Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine—alongside numerous upstream and downstream industry players, universities, and clinical partners—the company is jointly driving the independent development of photon-counting spectral CT technology. This collaborative effort fully leverages each partner’s strengths across areas like complete-system design, clinical application, and advanced diagnostics, laying a robust foundation for the project’s success.

Leveraging deep-rooted technological expertise and sustained investment in innovation, United Imaging Healthcare has achieved significant breakthroughs in core areas such as whole-system design, algorithmic innovation, and spectral imaging applications. Specifically, in the realm of ultra-high-resolution imaging, the company’s photon-counting spectral CT detector has reduced its pixel area to just 1/9 of its original size, enabling it to capture even the tiniest lesion structures with unprecedented clarity. This technological advancement is particularly crucial for early detection of abnormalities and enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, United Imaging Healthcare has successfully addressed the challenge of diminished signal strength caused by the smaller pixel size—thanks to innovative correction and reconstruction algorithms—that effectively suppress noise while maintaining exceptional image quality.

Addressing the critical challenge of handling large datasets in photon-counting spectral CT, United Imaging Healthcare has also undertaken comprehensive technological innovations. By optimizing data processing workflows and enhancing algorithm efficiency, the company has achieved ultra-high-resolution imaging with full collimation coverage. This groundbreaking advancement enables photon-counting spectral CT to push deeper into areas requiring extensive coverage—such as cardiac examinations—providing patients with even more comprehensive medical imaging information.

In addition to groundbreaking technology, United Imaging Healthcare’s photon-counting spectral CT also achieves the significant goal of dramatically reducing radiation doses. Compared to conventional CT scans, photon-counting spectral CT can lower radiation exposure by as much as 60% to 70%, and in certain tissues and organs, the reduction even reaches 80% to 90%. This remarkable decrease enhances patient safety during CT scans, minimizing the potential harm caused by radiation exposure.

Currently, United Imaging Healthcare's photon-counting spectral CT has been introduced into clinical medical research at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. As leading medical institutions in China, these two hospitals will leverage United Imaging Healthcare's cutting-edge equipment and technical support to conduct in-depth research in medical imaging and explore innovative clinical applications, thereby contributing to the ongoing advancement of China's medical technology capabilities.

United Imaging Healthcare has successfully developed and received approval for China's first photon-counting spectral CT scanner, marking a significant breakthrough not only in China's medical technology sector but also a major milestone in the global evolution of medical imaging equipment technology. This achievement will inspire more Chinese companies and research institutions to invest in the R&D and innovation of cutting-edge medical imaging devices, collectively driving continuous advancements in global healthcare technology. Looking ahead, as photon-counting spectral CT technology continues to gain wider adoption and application, it is expected to deliver safer, more efficient, and highly precise medical imaging services to patients worldwide.