From life-saving cancer treatments, to highly sophisticated diagnostic imaging equipment, to allergy testing equipment, to helping doctors and hospitals better manage patient data, Hitachi is dedicated to improving healthcare and medical treatment.
Among its many medical-related accomplishments, Hitachi is a pioneer in proton beam therapy (PBT) technology, an advanced type of cancer radiotherapy that employs spot scanning irradiation. In 1998, Hitachi developed its own proton beam therapy system, and in 2001, the first Hitachi PBT system was successfully used at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.
In addition to PBT, Hitachi Group companies that serve the healthcare and medical sectors – Hitachi America, Ltd.’s Power Systems Division, Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Hitachi Data Systems and Hitachi Medical Systems America – provide many other cutting edge technologies, including medical imaging, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies. These technologies are helping clinicians around the world create the next generation of products to predict, diagnose, inform and treat disease, so their patients can live their lives to the fullest.
In 2006, Hitachi obtained FDA clearance to sell its PBT system in the United States. This product is sold and marketed by Hitachi America, Ltd.’s Power Systems Division. Proton Beam Therapy is gaining popularity due to its effectiveness in treating certain forms of cancer by delivering targeted doses of radiation to cancerous tumors with less damage to surrounding, healthy tissue. With PBT, patients experience minimal pain during the procedure and are able to maintain their normal, daily activities while effectively treating their disease. Hitachi has over 20 years of proven particle technology experience, consisting of designing, manufacturing and implementing key particle accelerating components and technologies at various internationally recognized cancer treatment centers of excellence, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, Inc. is a global leader in the area of in vitro allergy diagnostics and has a legacy of innovation. Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, Inc. was the first company to introduce a multiple in vitro diagnostic test for allergies and one of the first to introduce a chemiluminescent assay system for the detection of lgE antibodies. The company holds many in vitro allergy testing technology patents and continues to pioneer advancements in the field.
Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, an integral member of the Hitachi Group, works with industry leaders, laboratories and distributors around the world to provide the medical community access to the latest in vitro allergy testing technology. Its products are marketed to over 40 countries worldwide.
Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Inc. (HCR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical Company, is a research and development company performing cutting edge research in the life sciences field. Utilizing their expertise in mRNA research, HCR scientists are developing new diagnostic tools to determine drug efficacy, help with genetic testing and quickly detect food borne pathogens. In addition, HCR’s nanotechnology group develops chemical and electrochemical technologies and materials designed to improve the health and welfare of people around the world.
Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) provides bestin-class information technologies, services and solutions that help store and protect sensitive medical data, improve clinical decision making and the resulting patient care, and control costs. HDS’s solutions for healthcare providers are designed to meet changing clinical and business demands while improving patient safety, team productivity and quality of care. Its healthcare payer solutions enhance processing and payment systems performance. And the company’s medical solutions – such as the new Hitachi Clinical Repository (HCR), an information management solution that transforms raw medical data and images into meaningful information, independent of the source application, are designed to enhance collaboration and information mobility.
Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc. (HMSA), located in Twinsburg, Ohio, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Medical Corporation. HMSA offers a broad range of diagnostic imaging equipment including MRI, Open MRI, CT and Ultrasound.
Known for its innovations in diagnostic imaging, such as its lower dose*, highdiagnostic- value CT solutions and patientfriendly high-field MRI and next generation Ultrasound systems, HMSA solutions provide diagnostic confidence, improve workflow efficiency and deliver a better patient experience. In addition to exceptional equipment, HMSA is also known for its comprehensive customer support programs to maximize the lifecycle value of equipment through responsive service maintenance, significant software upgrades and on-going applications support.
*In clinical use, dose saving features may reduce CT patient dose depending on the clinical task, patient size, anatomical location and clinical practices employed. Consultation with a radiologist and physicist are recommended to determine the appropriate dose needed to obtain diagnostic image quality for a particular clinical task.
