1950s
1951Founding of NIHON KOHDEN
Founding of NIHON KOHDEN
On August 7th, 1951, NIHON KOHDEN was founded by Dr. Yoshio Ogino.
1951Electroencephalograph ME-1D 8-channel EEG
Electroencephalograph ME-1D 8-channel EEG
This original instrument used vacuum tubes and ink-stylus galvanometers that required powerful magnetic fields. It was the first in the world to be completely powered from the AC lines. Today's models require little maintenance and are compact and easy to operate. Some machines also feature EEG data archiving capability.
1951Electrocardiograph MC-1B Single-channel ECG
Electrocardiograph MC-1B Single-channel ECG
Our original ECG weighed 16 kg and used vacuum tubes and a mirror-galvanometer that required photographic processing to see the ECG waveforms. Since then we have made great technological strides forward. Today's ECGs feature direct recording, multiple channels, automatic operation, safety features, and automatic waveform interpretation and monitoring. New dedicated machines allow portable, desktop, and stress testing applications.
1951Kymograph MK-1M Kymograph
Kymograph MK-1M Kymograph
This was Japan's first photo-electric kymograph. A kymograph is a chart recorder in which a pen records on paper over a revolving drum. It was useful for recording variations such as in blood pressure or muscle tension.
The first 5 years = Continuing Innovation
In August 1952, the same month the Company celebrated its 1st anniversary, the Trio Hearing Aid received an award from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. After this, sales of hearing aids took a favorable turn and retail outlets were expanded throughout Japan.
In 1954, Doctor Ogino went to America in 1954 to attend the 17th International Opthalmology Congress and present the opthalmodynamometer. This was the first NIHON KOHDEN product introduced in the US.
NIHON KOHDEN added employees and expanded its medical electronic equipment market with production and sales of hearing aids. For the first 5 years, sales doubled every year and in 1956 the company earned its first gross profit. In that year, Yoshio Ogino assumed the position of president of the company.
In 1956, the Japanese economy entered a period of high growth and NIHON KOHDEN entered a period of developing innovative technology. Development and bringing to market new products also entered full swing. In 1956, NIHON KOHDEN developed the MM-21A electromyograph and the next year developed a ground-breaking portable, single channel, heat-writing electrocardiograph, the MC-2H. That was followed by the ME-91D electroencephalograph in 1959 and the RM-150 multi-channel polygraph system in 1960.
1953Cerebral artery pressure meter MOP-1C Cap-Meter
Cerebral artery pressure meter MOP-1C Cap-Meter
NIHON KOHDEN invented and patented the world's first electrical cerebral artery pressure meter in 1951 (the MOB-1). The next year, an improved and completely AC powered model, the MOC-1C, was developed. This was especially valuable in diagnosis and surgery in ophthalmology and internal medicine.
1955Electronic writing ECG Carditron MC-1C Electrocardiograph
Electronic writing ECG Carditron MC-1C Electrocardiograph
This was the world's first ECG with electronic recording. The paper passed directly over a fiberplate vacuum tube. In addition to standard ECG, it could also do realtime recording of UCG (ultrasound) and echocardiogram.
1956EEG analyzer MAF-1 Frequency Analyzer
EEG analyzer MAF-1 Frequency Analyzer
This was Japan's first EEG analyzer.
19599-channel EEG ME-91D Electroencephalograph
9-channel EEG ME-91D Electroencephalograph
This was Japan's first 9 channel EEG. The 9th channel could record ECG to aid in more accurate diagnosis.
