Varian Medical Systems And Palo Alto Research Center Receive Federal Funding To Develop X-Ray Security Systems | Varian

{ "pageType": "news-article", "title": "Varian Medical Systems And Palo Alto Research Center Receive Federal Funding To Develop X-Ray Security Systems", "articleDate": "2003年 9月 18日", "introText": "", "category": "" }

Varian Medical Systems And Palo Alto Research Center Receive Federal Funding To Develop X-Ray Security Systems

PALO ALTO, Calif., - September 18, 2003 - Varian Medical Systems, Inc.(NYSE: VAR), and the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) have been awarded a
$5.87 million federal grant to develop ultra-sensitive X-ray inspection
technology for cargo screening at airports and seaports.  The grant was
awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, as part of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology's Advanced Technology Program.

Scientists at the two institutions, which have successfully collaborated in
the past to develop flat-panel X-ray detectors for medical applications, will
now work to develop large-area, high-resolution digital X-ray sensor arrays
for cone-beam computerized tomography (CT).   These new large-area
detectors, when paired with high-energy X-ray sources such as Varian's
Linatron® linear accelerators, will enable technicians to
examine the contents of a cargo container more quickly and thoroughly. 

"The events of September 11, 2001, and more recent events that have
highlighted the vulnerability of our air and seaports, point toward an urgent
need for more effective and widespread screening of the cargo that flows into
this country every day," said Richard M. Levy, PhD, president and CEO of
Varian Medical Systems.  "On the other hand, an effective solution must
minimize the disruption to the flow of worldwide commerce.  This
collaborative research project seeks to modify and substantially improve
state-of-the-art technology so that inspectors can detect contraband in
luggage, baggage, and cargo containers quickly and cost-effectively."

Currently, flat-panel X-ray imaging technology is very expensive to
produce.  "The goal is to develop cost-effective methods for making
flat-panel sensor arrays that are many times larger than those used for
medical imaging," said Michael Green, technical manager for the project and
senior scientist at Varian's Ginzton Technology Center, the company's research
and development organization.

Both Varian and PARC, a subsidiary of Xerox, are investing additional
resources into this research project. “This is a complex,
multidisciplinary effort that would be difficult for any one company to
complete on its own," said Robert Street, PARC senior research fellow and
project principal investigator. “Without the ATP funding, the development
of new technology from this research would take much longer."

Varian Medical Systems plans to commercialize any technology that results from
this research by making new components and subsystems available to
manufacturers of baggage and cargo screening systems.

Varian Medical Systems, Varian, and Linatron are registered trademarks of
Varian Medical Systems, Inc.  PARC and the Palo Alto Research Center are
trademarks of Palo Alto Research Center, Incorporated.