GE Healthcare sole supplier of MRI technology at Beijing Olympics
7 March 2008
GE Healthcare has been chosen as the sole supplier of magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) technology for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Two of GE Healthcare’s advanced MRI technologies, the Signa HDe 1.5T
will be installed at the Olympic Village General Hospital and be
accessible to be used on all international competing athletes during the
Games.
MR imaging as a non-invasive technique is an optimal means of
acquiring high-contrast images of both the bone structures and the soft
tissue structures, which together create a complex joint such as the
knee or shoulder. These body parts are of high risk for athletes as
musculoskeletal injuries can occur any time.
This leads to the need to have leading imaging technologies such as
MRI close to the game of play available to sports physicians to more
accurately monitor an athlete’s condition and enable more tailored
training and recovery protocols to be devised.
Every day an athlete spends in rehab is a day lost in training, which
is why diagnosing injuries earlier or monitoring the recovery in real
time is crucial for elite performance.
“At GE Healthcare we are very pleased to be the sole supplier of MRI
equipment for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Using GE Healthcare
technology and expertise, clinicians can detect and diagnose injury and
disease earlier and ensure better patient care. All athletes run a risk
of injury and our experience in sports medicine as well as our customer
feedback tells us how important it has become for athletes to have
advanced MR technology such as the Signa HDe 1.5T on-site during
training and competition at the Olympic Village General Hospital”
commented Chih Chen, President of GE Healthcare China.