North Korea Succeeds in Developing Multi-detector CT Scanner
North Korea Succeeds in Developing Multi-detector CT Scanner
  • By Choi Sung, Professor of Computer Science at Nam
  • 승인 2016.02.05 10:34
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최성 남서울대학교 교수/한국어정보학회장

According to a source familiar with North Korean issues, Kim Chaek University of Technology has developed a spiral computed tomography (CT) scanner on its own.

Former North Korea leader Kim Jong-il had first proposed the idea of developing a CT scanner. Following in the footsteps of Kim Jong-il, current leader Kim Jong-un checked out updates on the development of a CT scanner several times and reportedly encouraged researchers at Chaek University of Technology.

With the backing of North Korea’s leadership, researchers had embarked on the development of the nation’s first homegrown CT scanner. Their goal was to develop a cutting-edge spiral CT scanner.

As of now, Okryu Children’s Hospital, a famous children’s hospital in North Korea, has a CT scanner, which costs hundreds of millions of won. Since Okryu Children’s Hospital purchased the CT scanner before Kim Chaek University of Technology’s development of North Korea’s first spiral CT scanner, it must have been imported.

Scientists also developed an image reconstruction program and a high-voltage generator, so a data analysis system capable of transmitting high-volume data into a computer in real-time has been set up. Yet it is reported that the development process was not all smooth sailing.

Enhancing precision seems to have been the toughest job. Researchers are reported to have carried out tests for several months to ensure the quality of CT images while reducing the amount of X-rays as much as possible. Since there are concerns over radiation exposure associated with CT scans, the North Korean researchers took pains to reduce the amount of X-Rays.

The North Korean spiral CT scanner is said to be a multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanner.

On Dec. 19, 2015, The Jajusibo, an Internet-based media outlet, reported that North Korea researchers had developed a state-of-the-art MDCT scanner, which can take many images in one rotation and reconstruct the images into 2D and 3D.

CT scanners are cutting-edge medical equipment, so North Korea considers the successful development of the nation’s first homegrown spiral CT scanner as one of the greatest achievements made before the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, slated for May 2016.

Major general hospitals are equipped with CT scanners, including 64-channel MDCT scanners. North Korea’s successful development of its first MDCT scanner means that the North has taken its CT technology to the most advanced level.


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