There are diseases that require special attention in summer. One of them is urinary tract stones. The urinary tract is the pathway for urine to exit, consisting of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. In summer, a lot of moisture is lost through sweat, resulting in reduced urine volume. This increases the risk of stones floating in the urine blocking the urinary tract. When urinary tract stones occur, flank pain or bleeding may appear.
If urinary tract stones are suspected, an X-ray examination is necessary. However, if the stones are small, they may not be easily detected on X-rays. A domestic corporation has solved this with new technology. That is JPI Healthcare.
On the 28th in Guro-gu, Seoul, Kim Jin-guk, CEO of JPI Healthcare, noted, "With Tomosynthesis medical devices, urinary tract stones can be detected," adding, "It is a technology that allows a detailed, rapid understanding of the body in three dimensions, more precisely than X-rays."
◇Three-dimensional structure identification, reduced radiation
Tomosynthesis is an imaging device that is intermediate between X-rays and CT (computed tomography). It captures images of body parts such as the chest, abdomen, flank, joints, and skull. While X-rays show the inside of the body in two dimensions, tomosynthesis provides three-dimensional images, making it easier for medical personnel to detect diseases.
CT divides the human body into hundreds of high-resolution flat X-ray images. Each X-ray image shows a tissue cross-section. By collecting these images, one can view the interior of the body in three dimensions. Tomosynthesis obtains three-dimensional images like CT by taking X-rays from various angles. This results in reduced radiation exposure compared to CT.
CEO Kim stated, "The human body is thicker and more complicated than one might think, making it hard to detect small parts like urinary tract stones with X-rays," adding, "Tomosynthesis allows for accurate disease diagnosis because it captures images from various angles." Typically, it takes just 20 seconds to capture images of the body and display them on the screen.
The company has solved the so-called "radiation dilemma" with its proprietary technology. While exposing the body to more radiation makes the images clearer, it also increases exposure risk. Reducing radiation results in blurrier images. The company addressed this with a grid. The grid, which looks like a rectangular plate measuring 43 cm by 60 cm, is inserted into the tomosynthesis detector (reflector). The detector is a component that converts images captured by radiation into a format visible to the human eye.
CEO Kim explained, "When X-rays pass through the body, they bounce off various bones and tissues in many directions," adding, "The grid removes unnecessary scatter, reducing noise that distorts the image and enhancing clarity." The company manufactures the grid using lead and aluminum through semiconductor manufacturing methods, reducing radiation exposure while increasing penetration capabilities to provide detailed images of the interior of the body.
The tomosynthesis device from JPI Healthcare is mobile, equipped with wheels. CEO Kim mentioned, "It can be easily used in emergency rooms and screening clinics, allowing the device to be moved instead of having the patient moved in critical situations."
◇Entering the markets of the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia
According to the global market research agency Fortune Business Insights, the global disease diagnosis market is expected to grow from $120 billion (165 trillion won) in 2023 to $220 billion (302 trillion won) in 2030. CEO Kim noted that the tomosynthesis market is expected to grow alongside it and stated that the company plans to actively enter overseas markets.
CEO Kim sees the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia as key markets. He noted, "The Middle East has high income levels due to oil money, resulting in greater health awareness and growth in the medical device industry." He added that Europe, especially Germany, has a developed imaging diagnosis market, making it an optimal place to validate technology.
Southeast Asia is also a good place to prove technical capabilities in another sense. He remarked, "In places with a lot of rain and humidity, problems can arise with imaging device components, causing the images to not display properly," adding, "I want to convey that clear images can be obtained even in such environments."
JPI Healthcare received significant help from the Multi-Ministry Joint Medical Device Research and Development Project Team in developing its mobile tomosynthesis device. CEO Kim stated, "This project was selected as one of the top 10 representative projects by the Multi-Ministry Project Team for 2025, providing funding and consulting support," adding, "The goal is to help patients and medical staff with a medical device that diagnoses the body in three dimensions."
JPI Healthcare was established from Jungwon Precision Industry, founded by CEO Kim's father in 1980. It changed to its current name in 2010. CEO Kim graduated from Korea University with a degree in business administration and joined the company in 2004. Last year, JPI Healthcare reported consolidated sales of 45 billion won and operating profit of 3.9 billion won.