Ann Arbor’s Xoran Technologies Awarded $8M to Commercialize Mobile CT Imaging System

Xoran Technologies in Ann Arbor has been awarded an $8 million matching grant by the National Institutes of Health to integrate and commercialize its CT imaging system xCAT IQ. The device is designed for use with surgical navigation and for the spine.
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Xoran Technologies' xCAT IQ
Xoran Technologies’ xCAT IQ, which brings CT scanning capabilities to patients, has received funding to integrate and commercialize the system. // Photo courtesy of Xoran Technologies

Xoran Technologies in Ann Arbor has been awarded an $8 million matching grant by the National Institutes of Health to integrate and commercialize its CT imaging system xCAT IQ. The device is designed for use with surgical navigation and for the spine.

The National Cancer Institute, which is under the National Institutes of Health umbrella, is providing Xoran with $4 million in research and development funds over three years. The award was matched by Decathlon Capital Partners, a private firm.

Xoran has been making medical cone beam computed tomography since 2001. Its xCAT IQ is a compact, mobile CT scanner with high-resolution cranial imaging.

“It has been our dream since the inception of the company to have such a scanner,” says Misha Rakic, CEO of Xoran. “But only in the last three to four years has the technology reached such levels that this became possible.”

The scanner was designed specifically for operating rooms and intensive care units. It is maneuverable and easy-to-use, so patients can be scanned directly at their point of care instead of having to be transported out of surgery or recovery for CT scans.

Minimally invasive procedures often require tools to help doctors see inside patients while procedures occur. These visualization assists are Xoran’s focus.

“We are grateful to the NCI for supporting our ongoing research and development in this exciting area,” says William van Kampen, CTO of Xoran. “This non-dilutive funding will support scientists and engineers working here in Michigan on technology intended to help make minimally invasive neurosurgery procedures safer and more widely available.”

The movable scanner can reduce operating room time and improve outcomes, and commercialization will offer hospitals access to the technology.

“The benefits to stroke and traumatic brain injury patients cannot be overstated,” says Rakic. “Access to a low-dose, affordable yet incredibly nimble imaging system means that patients can be treated more quickly, more accurately, and more comfortably.”

Future plans for Xoran include methods for early stroke detection in the emergency room and through telemedicine, aided by artificial intelligence.

Xoran was founded by two research scientists at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The company’s goal is to develop technologies that enable physicians and surgeons to treat patients more efficiently and effectively.