Since its founding in 2015, KA Imaging, a Waterloo spinoff, has been revolutionizing X-ray technology in Canada and around the world.
The company was founded by three visionary Waterloo alumni: Amol Karnick (BASc '95), Sina Ghanbarzadeh (MASc '14, in memoriam) and Dr. Karim Karim (BASc '99, PhD '03) who all had a goal to create significant social impact by advancing X-ray imaging technology.
Today, KA Imaging has grown to more than 50 employees, with its innovative products being utilized in 10 countries across three continents.
"The idea behind KA Imaging is to integrate X-ray innovations into existing markets and industries," says Karim, an electrical and computer engineering professor at Waterloo and chief technology officer at KA Imaging.
In 2020, the company received a medical device license and FDA clearance for its Reveal 35C, a dual-energy X-ray detector, which has allowed KA Imaging to expand its portable, cost-effective, and high-quality alternative to traditional X-rays into more hospitals and communities that need them.
Karim explains that the Reveal 35C differs from conventional X-rays by utilizing spectral X-ray information inherent in the X-ray beam, where the advantage is that it separates materials such as water and calcium, going above and beyond what regular X-ray can do.
This enables medical practitioners to identify calcium and view bones or any calcium-containing structures clearly. It also allows for the isolation of soft tissues, such as the lungs, without the interference of bones.
"This technology is particularly useful because, in some cases, it has potential to eliminate the need for CT scans," Karim says. "Traditionally, if something isn't visible on an X-ray, a CT scan is required. However, with the Reveal 35C's spectral technology, lesions can become more visible and patients can potentially avoid CT scans, which is crucial in areas where access is limited."
Recently, KA Imaging partnered with Kenya Kids Foundation Canada and Hope International to introduce the Reveal 35C in Kenya at Village of Hope Hospital, seven hours away from Nairobi.
The Reveal 35C detector, recently installed at Village of Hope Hospital in Kenya, is already being used in community outreach initiatives to provide medical services to those in need.
Through this partnership, KA Imaging helped patients get a diagnosis with an X-ray alone, without having to travel long distances or spend more money for further imaging.
During the one week he was in Kenya, Karim shares that KA Imaging's technology helped doctors diagnose six cases of tuberculosis, and because of its portability, the Reveal 35C was shared by different clinics and rural hospitals.
Dr. Karim and his daughter Hana, a Waterloo student, during their visit to Kenya.
The Reveal 35C was also used to detect fractures in wrists, ankles, hips and spines, as well as diagnose pneumonia.
Looking forward, Karim highlights that the Reveal 35C is the first portable detector using spectral X-ray technology.
The technology has the potential to significantly benefit the future of health care, by reducing the number of CT scans enabling a hospital to save money, while simultaneously providing better service for critical patients since they don't have to be moved around.
"The future for KA Imaging lies in enhancing imaging in a portable form, bringing better patient care directly to the bedside," Karim concludes.
