6. Growth as a Top Medical Equipment Maker - 1990s

Life Scope 14 bedside monitor
拡大
Life Scope 14 bedside monitor

In 1991 the company celebrated its 40th anniversary. Since its founding, the number of Nihon Kohden Group employees had increased 100 fold to 2,500 employees. Sales had increased 4400 fold to 54 billion yen, capital had increased 5900 fold to 4.7 billion yen. Nihon Kohden had risen to become a top manufacturer of medical electronic equipment.
 

New product development continued. In 1992 the high-end Life Scope 14 BSM-8800 bedside monitor was developed to fulfill the high level requirements of the increasingly advanced level of medical care.
 

In 1995 we received ISO 9001 certification - the international standard of quality assurance.
 

Nihon Kohden expanded in Asia. In 1991 Shanghai Kohden Medical Electronic Instrument Corporation was established to manufacture and market single channel electrocardiographs for China. In 1996 Nihon Kohden Singapore was established to serve Southeast Asia countries.
 

In 1997 Nihon Kohden participated with 3 Japanese and American medical facilities in the world's first experiment in remote medicine. This experiment yielded valuable information and experience which will help in the future development of this important medical field.

“World's Firsts" and other notable products by Nihon Kohden

1990 World's first digital ECG telemetry

WEP-8430 Telemetry System

Digital ECG telemetry first appeared in this 8-patient telemetry monitor. Lightweight transmitters attached to the patient allowed the patient freedom of movement. This was ideal for rehabilitation and cardiac monitoring.

1991 World's first digital multi-parameter telemetry

Life Scope 12 BSM-8502 Bedside Monitor CNS-8200 Central Monitor

Digital multi-parameter telemetry first appeared in these monitors and has become an essential part of modern monitors. Multi-parameter telemetry greatly expanded the applications of wireless monitoring networks.

1991 32 channel digital EEG

Neurofax EEG-5532 Electroencephalograph

This was Japan's first 32 channel digital EEG. This breakthrough allowed such features as recording of more channels on the paper, recording of alphanumeric and graphic data in addition to waveforms, and lower noise and higher electrical safety to allow NICU and OR application. This EEG also had a 7" CRT screen to monitor the patient image.

1991 World's first telemetry stimulator

SRG-3100 Telemetry Stimulator

This was the world's first telemetry stimulator.

1994 World's 1st Windows based digital EEG

Neurofax EEG-2100 Digital EEG System

This Windows® 3.1 PC based EEG provided unparalleled ease of use. All functions could be quickly accessed with a mouse. The successor model, EEG-2110, was the world's first Windows 95 based EEG.

1998 World's 1st EP/EMG measuring system with multi-tasking

Neuropack MEB-2200 Evoked Potential/EMG Measuring System

This PC based, high-end system runs on Windows NT® for excellent stability and networking capability. It was the first evoked potential/EMG system in the world to offer multi-tasking. Multi-tasking allows the physician to have different examinations and screens open at the same time, and switch between them with a simple mouse click.

1999 World's 1st low-invasive blood volume monitor

DDG-2001 Pulse Dye Densitometer

As featured in the December '98 issue of Anesthesiology, this unique instrument tests hemodynamic function easily and less invasively at the bedside. With a clip-on finger probe and injection of dye into a vein, the DDG-2001 measures cardiac output and index, circulating blood volume and plasma ICG disappearance rate. Unlike other blood volume measurement methods, this new method does not require radioisotopes, Swan-Ganz catheter or cutdown (incision of vein). DDG-2001 uses the principle of pulse dye densitometry which is similar to the principle of pulse oximetry. Both of these were invented by Nihon Kohden researcher Takuo Aoyagi.

1999 World's first 192 channel simultaneous sampling EEG

Neurofax EEG-1100 Electroencephalograph

This EEG has 192 channel simultaneous sampling with 64 channel display. The large number of channels is essential for epilepsy monitoring and epilepsy surgery. A variety of electrode junction boxes and high performance PC with Windows® 98 assure flexible performance as well as easy networking, databasing and report generation.
 

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