Otsuka Medical Devices Co., Ltd. and Pioneer have reached an agreement to form a business alliance for the joint development of an endoscope for medical use.

Toward the commercialization, Pioneer intends to make use of its ultra-sensitive imaging technology based on HEED-HARP technology to develop a camera unit of Medical Endoscope jointly with OMD, and OMD plans to sell the Medical Endoscope using this camera unit worldwide.

HEED-HARP technology employs an image sensor that combines the High-efficiency Electron Emission Device (HEED), a thin electron-source array developed by Pioneer, with the High-gain Avalanche Rushing amorphous Photoconductor (HARP), an ultra-sensitive, photoelectric conversion film primarily developed by the Science & Technology Research Laboratories of the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).

The HEED technology has the ability to stably release electrons at a low drive voltage via a planar cold cathode electron source, which was discovered by Pioneer. The device is a high-efficiency, active drive-type electron-source array that has been integrated with LSI driven circuits.

The HARP provides high-sensitivity that enables vivid image capturing under dim lighting conditions equivalent to a moonlight night.

Applying HEED-HARP technology in devices such as ultra-thin diameter endoscopes and wireless endoscopes enables the clear imaging of objects under dim lighting conditions.

Through this alliance, both companies plan to move forward with the development of a minimally invasive Medical Endoscope to reduce patients' physical burden from surgery.