World’s First Mobile CT to Revolutionize Regional Healthcare
Australian X-ray technology company Micro-X has been awarded a groundbreaking development contract from the US Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), valued at up to US$16.4 million (A$25 million). The contract will support the creation of a world-first full-body mobile CT scanner.
Australian X-ray technology company Micro-X has received a major development contract from the US Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) under its Platform Accelerating Rural Access to Distributed and Integrated Medical Care (PARADIGM) program. The contract, valued at up to US$16.4 million (A$25 million), will fund the creation of a world-first lightweight, portable full-body CT scanner. This innovative development is poised to address one of the most pressing issues in healthcare today—providing advanced medical services to rural areas where access to healthcare facilities is limited.
The PARADIGM program is designed to enhance healthcare accessibility in rural and remote areas by creating scalable, vehicle-based platforms that can offer hospital-grade medical services outside traditional healthcare settings. Micro-X’s project will create a mobile CT unit capable of performing full-body scans, enabling immediate diagnosis in rural or underserved communities, without the need for patients to travel long distances to a hospital. This initiative is expected to revolutionize medical imaging in rural healthcare settings, providing essential services in areas where they are most needed.
The project is set to span five years, with funding provided by ARPA-H, contingent on their options, and is intended to advance through to FDA premarket submission (501(k)). This marks a critical step in bringing this innovative technology to market and making it available for clinical use. The funding will support the development of a mobile full-body CT that is significantly more compact and portable than traditional CT scanners, which often weigh over 2,000 kilograms. Micro-X’s goal is to create a full-body CT scanner that weighs only 225 kilograms, making it easy to transport and deploy in remote settings.
The key technology driving this breakthrough is Micro-X’s Nano Electronic X-ray (NEX) Technology. This technology uses small, powerful X-ray tubes that enable a dramatic reduction in the size, weight, and power requirements of conventional X-ray devices. This development builds on previous successes, with Micro-X securing contracts from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Australian Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to further refine and advance the NEX Technology.
Conventional CT scanners, which currently hold the largest share (approximately 30%) of the global medical imaging market, are the gold standard for diagnosing a range of conditions such as cardiac issues, trauma, cancer, and lung diseases. Despite their widespread use, traditional CTs are bulky, immobile, and require extensive infrastructure. Micro-X’s portable, full-body CT has the potential to overcome these challenges by providing the same diagnostic capabilities as conventional machines while significantly reducing the logistical barriers associated with traditional equipment.
Micro-X’s Chief Executive Officer Kingsley Hall emphasized the company’s commitment to challenging the limitations of legacy X-ray technology and developing solutions that better meet the needs of healthcare providers, patients, and users. “Micro-X continues to push the boundaries of innovation to provide healthcare solutions that are not only more efficient but also more accessible,” Hall said.
Brian Gonzales, Micro-X’s CEO for the United States and Chief Scientific Officer, added that the company’s vision aligns closely with ARPA-H’s goal for the PARADIGM program. “ARPA-H’s vision for the PARADIGM Program is closely aligned with Micro-X’s mission to bring revolutionary X-ray imaging technology to rural communities,” Gonzales explained. “By extending hospital-grade imaging capabilities beyond the traditional hospital setting, we are providing a solution that can truly change lives, especially in underserved areas.”
The new mobile full-body CT scanner is expected to have a transformative impact on rural healthcare. By bringing high-quality medical imaging directly to remote areas, patients will no longer need to wait for hospital appointments or travel long distances to receive essential diagnostic services. This will help reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment, potentially improving patient outcomes and enabling healthcare providers to manage patient care more effectively.
Micro-X is an ASX-listed company focused on developing and commercializing advanced X-ray technology for global health and security markets. The company’s proprietary cold cathode, carbon nanotube (CNT) emitter technology enables the creation of smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient X-ray products. In addition to the mobile CT scanner, Micro-X’s product portfolio includes mobile digital radiology equipment for healthcare, military, and veterinary applications. The company is also working on a brain CT imager for pre-hospital stroke diagnosis in ambulances, supported by the Australian Medical Research Future Fund.
Micro-X is rapidly expanding its business in the United States, with a growing team based in Seattle. The company continues to innovate across various sectors, including healthcare, security, and emergency services, positioning itself as a leader in next-generation X-ray technology.
With the development of the mobile full-body CT scanner, Micro-X is paving the way for a future where advanced healthcare technologies are accessible to all, regardless of geographic location. This project represents a major step forward in healthcare accessibility and could have a lasting impact on the way medical imaging is delivered in rural and underserved communities worldwide.
