Hi, I'm Elizabeth Holland, General Manger for Global Nuclear Medicine at GE Medical Systems, and welcome to the 48th annual Society of Nuclear Medicine show.
Functional imaging has always been a challenge for nuclear medicine physicians. Unlike X-ray or CT, nuclear medicine generates data based on metabolic activity resulting in an image with little or no anatomical reference points. This can be particularly difficult to read, especially when trying to establish the absolute size, shape, and location of diseased tissue. GE Medical Systems has developed a solution to this problem.
I am pleased to announce a significant enhancement to the Millennium VG Hawkeye system, which creates the finest dual detector PET/SPECT/CT system available today. The first innovation is a specially designed one-inch crystal for both detectors. This thicker crystal dramatically increases the imaging efficiency for higher energies, especially for PET studies.
Our first customers have told us that when combined with higher resolution electronics incorporating 95 photomultiplier tubes this new configuration can detect 8-10 mm lesions without compromising routine low energy planar or SPECT image quality. Hawkeye, GE's exclusive CT hybrid imaging system, is standard in this new configuration. This remarkable imaging system is called the Discovery VH.
As part of the Discovery family of imaging systems, the Discovery VH is a hybrid imaging system that fully realizes the clinical benefit of PET / CT imaging. This enables physicians to better diagnose disease and deliver improved patient care. However, the Discovery VH goes much further than this. It can also be used as a conventional SPECT or planar nuclear medicine camera for low energy applications. The relative low cost of the system, when compared to a full-ring PET system, and its outstanding clinical versatility for both PET and SPECT makes the Discovery VH an excellent clinical value for any nuclear medicine department.
Initial clinical results illustrate that with its unmatched resolution and contrast, the Discovery VH offers the best-in-class attenuation correction for both cardiac SPECT and PET applications. Clinical Oncology studies utilizing Hawkeye CT have demonstrated a change in patient management in 1 out four cases, according to our customers. This benefit has been demonstrated in both Coincidence FDG scans and in SPECT procedures utilizing Gallium 67, Iodine 131, Indium 111 and other isotopes.
Hawkeye was the world's first system to combine a CT with a gamma camera. GE continues this imaging revolution with the new Discovery VH. This shows GE's commitment to bringing physicians the best in Hybrid Imaging. At GE we don't wait for new technology to happen. We create it. The new Discovery VH is a perfect example of GE's innovation leadership in nuclear medicine.
By using our site or downloading materials from the site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Click above to review those policies. If you do not agree, do not use the site or download any materials from it.
