GE Medical Systems Unveils Significant Advancements in Cardiac Imaging Capabilities
Computed Tomography (CT) Technology for the Fight Against Heart Disease
CHICAGO -- GE Medical Systems, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), today at the 2002 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions unveiled significant advancements in cardiac computed tomography (CT).
With an estimated 40 million CT procedures performed in the United States each year, CT is the fastest way to a diagnosis in a medical emergency and one of the most popular diagnostic tools for medical professionals worldwide. CT scans combine the power of X-ray technology and computers, allowing physicians to view wafer-thin cross-sections of internal anatomy without the need for surgery.
“GE is the number one innovator, developer and supplier of cardiac CT worldwide,” said Peter Arduini, general manager of global CT for GE Medical Systems. “Earlier this year GE introduced LightSpeed16, the world’s best-selling 16-slice CT scanner. Today, we introduce e-Speed, the world’s fastest cardiac CT which uses electron beam tomography, a GE exclusive technology. Both work seamlessly with our extensive suite of cardiac post-processing tools.”
New innovative technology includes the GE e-Speed™ EBT™ scanner, just cleared for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the LightSpeed16 CT system. Until recently, the only effective ways to determine blockage were invasive, time-consuming procedures including cardiac catheterization.
The New GE e-Speed
The GE e-Speed is the world’s fastest CT using EBT technology at 30 frames per second, just as fast as in the cath lab. e-Speed is a breakthrough technology because it is a non-invasive and clinically validated solution for obtaining critical information about the heart, arteries and vessels in less than one minute.
In the one single Comprehensive Cardiac™ exam the e-Speed can perform a wider range of information than any other non-invasive imaging test -- including total plaque burden, stenosis, heart function and blood flow information about the heart.
What makes e-Speed different from any other medical imaging system is its unmatched speed combined with resolution and coverage. For example, e-Speed can acquire 10 images during the time required to image a single frame using other scanners. e-Speed can freeze frame the heart, similar to a camera with an ultra fast shutter speed. In addition, e-Speed can clearly depict cardiac motion in a new volumetric cine or movie view of the heart – similar to cardiac catheterization.
Specifically, e-Speed is the only scanner in the world that offers 33, 50 or 100 millisecond (ms) True Temporal Resolution™ images at up to 30 frames per second. This type of capability is important because the fastest possible scan modes are required to image high and irregular heart beats, often associated with patients with heart disease.
LightSpeed16 CT System
The GE LightSpeed family of scanners is the world’s most popular CT, with more than 2,500 systems installed globally. The LightSpeed16 is the fourth evolution in the family of products and company officials expect a total of 300 LightSpeed16 systems to be installed by the end of the year.
The LightSpeed16 features technological innovations that deliver speed with sub-millimeter resolution and effective dose optimization for advanced clinical applications. LightSpeed16 offers true 16-slice acquisition per rotation, capable in all scan modes and all scan speeds, providing routine thin-slice imaging at 16 x 0.625mm and 16 x 1.25mm acquisitions per rotation.
The system features microVoxel™ resolution, cubic CT data sets with the smallest practical volume, delivering superior image quality in 3D and multi-planar reformatting (MPR) with little to no difference from axial imaging. microVoxel imaging allows for routine sub-millimeter isotropic resolution that facilitates imaging of small tortuous vessels, fine bony structures and coronary arteries.
Images acquired on LightSpeed16 also show twice the anatomical detail in any dimension as compared with other scanners introduced just last year. This level of detail aids physicians to non-invasively diagnose diseases in the heart, brain and other anatomy faster and easier.
Advanced Features & Applications
Advanced, upgraded versions of CT applications including CardIQ™ Analysis, CardIQ Function, and SmartScore are also making it easier for clinicians to acquire diagnostic images and process that clinical data faster and more efficiently.
GE has upgraded these applications for GE’s cardiac CT product line, including the LightSpeed16 and e-Speed systems, to meet clinician needs for improved cardiac diagnosis tools. For example, the new CardIQ Analysis II provides clinicians with a more flexible tool to visualize the heart and coronary vessels and improve the ability to examine the location of plaque in arteries and assist in better cardiac management.
The new CardIQ Analysis II serves as a physician assistance tool, helping to guide clinical procedures and allowing physicians to view, read, and examine volumetric cardiac data from an infinite number of angles in fewer than five minutes. In addition, CardIQ Analysis II has the ability to measure the composition of plaque within an artery, which may influence treatment options.
“Being able to determine the composition of the plaque will better assist physicians in accurately diagnosing patients,“ said David Dowe, M.D., Atlantic Medical Imaging in New Jersey.
CardIQ Function helps to increase the consistency and productivity of non-invasive cardiac exams. The application can now help radiologists and cardiologists better analyze the heart muscle and determine if the heart is functioning at capacity.
“Clinicians tell us it is important to understand the complete clinical picture of the patient when doing a diagnostic exam for accurate treatment”, said DeAnn Haas, Global Cardiac CT Marketing Manager at GE Medical Systems. “CardIQ Function combined with a Coronary CTA or EBA™ exam lets clinicians perform an analytical assessment providing more information to better explain the details behind cardiac disease.”
As part of the CardIQ Function offering, GE Medical Systems is the only diagnostic imaging manufacturer that provides software that measures both left and right cardiac ventricular functions. This allows doctors to obtain a broader perspective on the actions of the heart that will potentially enable them to make a more accurate diagnosis.
Another application tool recently released is SmartScore 3.5, which non-invasively assesses cardiac risks by showing the amount of calcified plaque within an artery. In addition, SmartScore 3.5 includes the ability to follow progression and regression of the calcified plaque which makes it possible for clinicians to understand the rate at which plaque builds up to determine the extend of the disease.
GE is the only company to offer CT solutions including single-, dual-, four-, eight- and16-slice, and Electron Beam Technology systems, all with an extensive suite of advanced applications and a path for future upgrades.
About GE Medical Systems
GE Medical Systems is a $9 billion global leader in medical imaging, interventional procedures, healthcare services, and information technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, clinical information systems, patient monitoring systems, surgery and vascular imaging, conventional and digital X-ray, computed tomography, electron beam tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry, positron emission tomography, nuclear medicine, and a comprehensive portfolio of clinical and business services. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Medical Systems for high quality medical technology and productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Medical Systems Web site at www.gemedical.com
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