{
  "id": 150289,
  "title": "Christchurch medical tech company secures milestone sale of CT scanner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/christchurch-medical-tech-company-secures-milestone-sale-of-ct-scanner",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-04T23:21:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/893500/christchurch-medical-tech-company-secures-milestone-sale-of-ct-scanner"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Christchurch-based medical technology company Mars Bioimaging has achieved a significant commercial milestone with the first-ever sale of its portable CT scanner to Christchurch-based healthcare provider, Reform Radiology. This marks a major step forward for the company, following its recent US regulatory approval and a $15 million fundraising round aimed at expanding its presence in the American market. The innovative MARS system, designed specifically for specialist clinics and imaging centres, is compact enough to be installed in consulting rooms, enabling patients to receive high-resolution, 3D X-ray imaging of hands, wrists, and arms at the point of care, eliminating the need to refer them to hospital radiology departments. The FDA cleared the scanner in March, following months of development. CEO Dr Ojas Mahapatra emphasized the technology's goal to reduce patient wait times for imaging, stating that the scanner allows for immediate, high-quality imaging within the clinic itself. He highlighted the importance of clinical customers in building the evidence needed for wider adoption by physicians and surgeons, noting that the clinical diagnostics market provides a more scalable commercial opportunity compared to previous sales to research institutions. This first clinical sale caps a productive year for Mars Bioimaging, which completed a $15 million fundraising round in January and gained FDA clearance in March. The company is now prioritizing generating revenue and plans to hire additional sales staff in the United States, with manufacturing continuing in Christchurch using local partner Argus Manutech.",
  "summary": "The company says it will keep manufacturing the scanners in Christchurch, even as it expands into the US.",
  "key_points": [
    "Mars Bioimaging sells first portable CT scanner to Reform Radiology.",
    "FDA clears MARS system in March for 3D X-ray imaging.",
    "CEO Dr Ojas Mahapatra aims to reduce patient wait times."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This sale marks a shift for Mars Bioimaging from research institution clients to the more lucrative clinical diagnostics market, where it aims to reduce patient wait times with its portable CT scanner.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}