U.S. FDA Clears GE Healthcare's New Wide Bore Computed Tomography System; Industry's...

WAUKESHA, Wis. -- GE's New Wide Bore Technology Designed for Two Unique Clinical Focus Areas

E[acute accent]GE Healthcare today announced it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the company's new wide bore computed tomography (CT) system. This

new technology, the world's most powerful 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.

E[acute accent]TECHNOLOGY LEADER IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY - LIGHTSPEED RT16

E[acute accent]As the imaging demands for Radiation Therapy planning increase, the LightSpeed RT16 is uniquely positioned to provide resolution, power and speed to meet extremely 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. E[acute accent]"GE Healthcare is the technology leader in imaging for radiation oncology," said Gene Saragnese, vice president and general manager of the company's global Molecular Imaging and CT business. "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."

E[acute accent]TECHNOLOGY LEADER IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY - LIGHTSPEED XTRA

E[acute accent]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. E[acute accent]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. E[acute accent]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. E[acute accent]Boasting the industry's most powerful tube and generator, LightSpeed Xtra provides the foundation for improved image quality of virtually all patients at up to 800-peak mA. GE's Volara 24-bit Digital DAS (Data Acquisition System) reduces noise up to 33 percent, resulting in excellent image quality in signal starved areas or soft tissue low contrast. With the ability to generate 16 x 0.625 mm thin-slice imaging, the LightSpeed Xtra sets a new level of imaging excellence for large patients. E[acute accent]Responsible dose management is assured with the new 3D Dose Modulation, available on all new LightSpeed Series systems, resulting in up to 30 percent dose reduction. E[acute accent]LightSpeed Xtra will be compatible with GE's SmartView(TM) real-time CT Fluoroscopy technology, further enabling challenging interventional procedures, while offering the physician extended access to the patient within the 80cm bore.