Micro-X sales jump on coronavirus need






Carbon fibre nanotube X-ray manufacturer Micro-X is ramping up sales of its portable, lightweight X-ray units as countries step up efforts to quickly detect the extent of lung infections by the coronavirus.

While a blood test determines infection by the virus, an X-ray is needed to determine the progression of the disease to severe states.

The company, the first in the world to succeed in building a carbon nanotube electron emitter (pictured), has struggled with sales of its Nano machines through its international distributor Carestream until now.

However in February the company received the first of a stream of orders from Asian countries seeking rapid detection methods for the virus.

Now Micro-X has reported it has received a further $1 million in orders bringing orders to date to $1.8 million in the first quarter, a jump from $1.9 million in sales for the whole of FY2019.

The purchases come from Europe and Asia and specify a four week delivery time frame.

While the standard lead time for delivery is 8-12 weeks, the company delivered the February orders within four weeks.

Micro-X CEO Peter Rowland said: “With the alarming state of this growing epidemic, we are pleased that our Nano mobile X-ray units are being used to assist in diagnosis and management of this new respiratory virus.

“For most patients COVID-19 begins and ends in the lungs because, like the flu, coronaviruses are respiratory diseases and chest X-rays remain a key tool in monitoring the progression of the pneumonia-like symptoms of severe coronavirus infections.”

Micro-X’s nanotube emitter, the first innovation in X-ray generation in more than a century, leads to a lighter, less power-hungry and more rugged product that normal glass X-ray tubes.

This makes the Nano particularly suitable for uses such as defence and the sort of field hospitals that have been set up to treat coronavirus sufferers.

Picture: Peter Roberts

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