GE Healthcare Announces Development of World's First Clinical Volume Computed Tomography (VCT) System
Wider Coverage at Sub-millimeter Resolution Opens the Doors
to Dynamic Whole-organ Imaging for Heart, Head, Body and Trauma
NEW ORLEANS – GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), today unveiled the development of the world’s first clinical Volume Computed Tomography (VCT) system, revolutionizing how computed tomography (CT) will be practiced. A breakthrough in CT technology, LightSpeed VCT will take a leadership position in GE’s LightSpeed® series, the most widely used CT scanners worldwide.
The advent of Volume CT has been much anticipated by the medical community. “Because Volume CT enables high-resolution imaging of organs in a second and the whole body in less than 10 seconds, I expect this to expand the role of non-invasive imaging in the future,” said Dennis Foley M.D., Professor of Radiology and Section Chief of Digital Imaging, Medical College of Wisconsin.
Today, GE continues its leadership in advanced CT technology by announcing the recent 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its LightSpeed VCT. The LightSpeed VCT will be commercially available later this year.
“Only 24 months ago, 16-slice CT scanners made their debut,” explains Peter Arduini, GM, Functional and CT Imaging at GE Healthcare. “Now, the quantum leap to VCT, which quadruples the slices with extra-wide coverage, is expected to bring significant clinical value, especially in cardiac, trauma, neuro, angiography, and pulmonary applications that require the combination of imaging speed, sub-millimeter resolution and wider coverage.”
The LightSpeed VCT system is made possible with the development of GE’s new VCT detector technology originally designed at GE’s Global Research Center. “GE’s VCT detector enables the next generation of Volume CT scanners much like the original X-ray tube, developed by William Coolidge at GE Research Center, enabled the current generation of CT scanners,” said Scott C. Donnelly, Senior Vice President, GE’s Global Research Center. “This innovation allowed us to leapfrog the 32- or 40-slice designs possible with conventional multi-slice CT detector technology and begin the VCT generation of scanners. The VCT detector enables 64 slices with 40mm coverage, and is the platform to even wider coverage and higher resolution in the future.”
In addition to expanded slices and coverage, the LightSpeed VCT system will deliver in tube power, image quality and clinical workflow productivity.
The LightSpeed VCT will be equipped with GE’s high-reliability Performix™ Pro X-ray tube, which is already available today on the GE LightSpeed Pro16. Faster scanners require higher X-ray tube power in order to maintain image quality as rotation speeds increase. The Performix Pro is unique – delivering both faster rotation speed and higher peak power simultaneously.
In addition, the LightSpeed VCT system will take hospital productivity to the next level with GE’s scalable Xtream™ technology. The Xtream productivity platform is currently available for GE’s entire LightSpeed series of scanners, providing the ability to scan thin, view thin, without the wait.
“Xtream has changed the way we work with 16-slice CT today,” said Dr. Foley. “With images being acquired four times as fast in Volume CT, it is mandatory that an advanced CT scanner comes complete with workflow solutions and dynamic reading tools that improve the productivity of the department and speed the time to a diagnosis.”
GE’s Xtream technology features rapid reconstruction and transfer rates with gigabit connectivity and a field-upgradeable, scalable platform – all designed to speed the total processing time from scanning a patient to reading images for a diagnosis. The Xtream platform will easily meet the processing demand of the LightSpeed VCT, allowing clinicians to efficiently utilize this scanner at its full imaging ability, routinely.
“What’s exciting is that it’s not just about slices anymore,” said Peter Arduini. “Coverage with resolution, tube power, productivity solutions and advanced applications come together to create the perfect balance for a successful CT suite. GE’s LightSpeed series has been designed with that perfect balance in mind, and GE will continue the tradition with the LightSpeed VCT system.”
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare is a $10 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 for high quality medical technology and productivity solutions. For more information, visit our Web site at gemedical.com.
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