New Zealand-headquartered medical device company MARS Bioimaging has confirmed one of its mobile photon-counting CT scanners will be installed at Bracco Imaging Research Center in Colleretto Giacosa, Italy.
The facility is focused on the development and innovation of contrast agents for X-ray/CT and MR imaging, with the MARS Bioimaging Scanner System set to support the contrast agent work programme and artificial intelligence research.
Bracco Imaging lead investigator Alberto Fringuello Mingo said the acquisition of the MARS photon-counting CT scanner was supported by the Fondo Italiano per le Scienze Applicate-funded research project, led by Principal Investigator Professor Angelo Bifone of the University of Turin.
“This project will investigate how AI and advanced imaging can be combined to enhance diagnostic outcomes, also leveraging the unique capabilities of photon-counting CT – such as spectral imaging and material decomposition – to achieve improved characterisation of contrast,” Mr Fringuello Mingo said.
MARS Bioimaging Group CEO Dr Ojas Mahapatra said the company was “excited” that a “world leader in diagnostic imaging and a trusted partner for radiologists,” had selected its technology to support its research.
“This sale to a leading industry innovator represents an important commercial milestone and signals growing momentum for MARS,” Dr Mahapatra said.
The MARS Bioimaging Extremity Scanner System received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance in March 2026, providing validation to support regulatory pathways and market adoption globally.
MARS Bioimaging Group COO Mark Figgitt said the company’s delivery of “high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging that visualises soft tissue, bone, blood vessels and metallic implants with clear material differentiation,” would enable new insights into how contrast agents can enhance diagnostic performance.
“Importantly, researchers can also readily access underlying data in an efficient workflow designed to add value to clinical research projects,” Mr Figgit said.
The MARS scanner uses advanced photon-counting detector technology developed originally through particle physics research at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN).
MARS Bioimaging holds the exclusive licence from CERN to commercialise its Medipix3 technology for medical imaging of extremities at the point-of-care and for mobile scanners for clinical research.
Add Comment