Abstract
The object of this paper is to clarify the interaction between scientific insight and in-company technology by discussing the R/D process of the Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Computed Radiography (FCR), medical X-ray digital imaging system. Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. started FCR research in 1975, showed the prototype in 1981 and launched the first commercial product in 1983. The product made it possible to provide high quality X-ray images on conventional X-ray film. The most difficult problem was designing the Imaging Plate (IP), which registers the intensity of the applied X-rays to change them to visible light. The IP concept is based on both photostimulated luminescence, discovered in the 19th century, and multi-layer application technology on polymer, which the company has used in photo film making for a long time. The interaction between scientific insight and in-company technology led to the innovation.
