GE Healthcare's wide-bore computed tomography system gets US FDA
go-ahead
6 May 2006
GE Healthcare has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to sell the company's new wide-bore computed tomography (CT)
system in the USA. The 16-slice wide bore CT system will be available in two
configurations. The LightSpeed RT16 enables advanced imaging for radiation
therapy planning, and the LightSpeed Xtra is a premium 16-slice CT scanner
designed for radiology needs such as trauma, interventional and bariatric
procedures.
The LightSpeed RT16 provides resolution, power and speed to meet challenging
clinical needs. With an extra large 80 cm gantry opening for better patient
positioning, clinicians have freedom to see and access to the patient's
entire anatomy.
Gene Saragnese, vice president and general manager of the company's global
Molecular Imaging and CT business said, "GE was the first to market with
multi-slice wide-bore technology for radiation therapy, and now we have the
most versatile wide bore system available."
CT has rapidly become the diagnostic imaging modality of choice because of
its ability to adapt and evolve. Yet, a number of patients are unable to
undergo a CT scan because of the limitation of existing systems to
accurately image large patients.
According to the American Obesity Association, over 20 percent of the U.S.
population is obese, with six million Americans morbidly obese — defined as
more than 100 pounds above the recommended body weight. GE Healthcare's
exclusive VT 2000 table has been optimized for accuracy of table movement
when imaging large patients. Responding to the increased need to image large
patients, the LightSpeed Xtra, the second configuration of GE's new Wide
Bore CT technology, has gained clearance by the U.S. FDA for imaging of
obese and morbidly obese patients.
LightSpeed Xtra provides exceptional image quality and productivity
capabilities in a variety of clinical settings. Combined with high-speed
helical imaging and wider bore, this system offers both clinical and
productivity advantages for hospital emergency and trauma departments.
Earlier this year, GE Healthcare announced the integration of its
revolutionary Advantage 4D and Advantage SIM technology, fusing the
capability of 4D imaging and planning to deliver the highest levels of
precision and speed for radiotherapy.
AdvantageSIM MD takes motion management to the next level by seamlessly
integrating 4D data into the planning process, and providing
multi-modality/multi-phase simulation for the optimal use of
state-of-the-art treatment methods, like IMRT and IGRT.
"GE listened to hundreds of radiation oncologists who told us that the
ability to see and define the precise location of tumours and critical
structures in motion using multiple modalities, including CT, PET & MR,
simultaneously was a pressing need in radiation oncology planning," said
Saragnese. "AdvantageSim MD with 4D provides the first multi-planar motion
management software to capture the full range of motion of critical internal
structures and lesions during respiration, providing a more accurate
description of the target and its trajectory."
The exclusive AdvantageSim MD multi-dimensional display presents a
real-time view of the anatomy in motion giving radiation oncologists the
ability to see the true shape and trajectory of the tumour and critical
structures, evaluate its full dynamic range of motion, and select a segment
of the respiratory cycle for treatment that will offer the optimal benefit
to the patient. Utilization in radiation oncology is made possible with
dedicated accessories including laser positioning lights and flat tabletop
to optimize oncology applications. Advanced applications utilizing acquired
data from LightSpeed RT16 are further enabled by up to 16 frames-per-second
(fps) reconstruction capabilities and 4D respiratory gating compatibility.
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