GE Develops New Nuclear Medicine Technology
PR Newswire - June 07, 1999 13:15
Jump to first matched term
Combined Imaging Technologies Intended to Help Clinicians Locate Disease In The Body
LOS ANGELES, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- GE Medical Systems is evaluating new nuclear medicine technology, functional anatomic mapping, that has the potential to provide clearer and more accurate identification of anatomic structures and diseases in the human body.
The new disease-detecting technology incorporates the two modalities of nuclear medicine and x-ray tomography to merge the functional imaging of nuclear medicine with the anatomical landmarks of digital X-Ray tomography. And the resulting image is a combination of form and function.
"Anatomic mapping will shape the use of nuclear medicine for the next Millennium," Beth Klein, general manager, global nuclear medicine/PET business for GE Medical Systems. "Functional Anatomic Mapping technology utilizes standard nuclear medicine imaging techniques to form a resultant image that is a perfect combination of anatomy and physiology -- this is a significant departure from how we review images today."
In order to obtain the new Functional Anatomic Mapping images, a patient is positioned on the table, just like in a Nuclear Medicine or PET exam. A digital X-ray tomogram is performed. Immediately following the x-ray tomogram -- without moving the patient -- the nuclear medicine tomogram is acquired.
A Combination of Technologies
Functional Anatomic Mapping Technology starts with GE's exclusive slip-ring gantry on its premium, dual-head, variable-geometry Millennium VG camera, which is ideal for adaptation to digital x-Ray tomography.
The X-ray tomography is a combination of a low dose x-ray tube and digital X-Ray technology mounted directly on the slip-ring gantry.
"This unique slip-ring gantry design allows for continuous revolution of the Nuclear Medicine detectors, X-Ray tube and detectors around the patient making it possible to cover the entire volume, without breaks, pauses, or the need to "rewind" the detectors after each revolution or two," said Nathan Hermony, head of GE's Nuclear Medicine R&D, Engineering and Manufacturing Center of Excellence located in Haifa, Israel.
In tandem, the two new technologies may help medical professionals identify the location of diseases, including cancer. Knowing the precise location of disease is critical to patient and disease management.
"Knowing the precise location of the disease, monitoring the response to therapy, and differentiating non-invasively benign from malignant lesions is critical to good patient care," said Dr. Martin Sandler, Vanderbilt University, Professor of Radiology and Medicine. Vanderbilt is currently conducting clinical trials with the anatomical mapping technology from GE. "The ability to acquire and view a combination of nuclear images with anatomic structure is intended to improve a physicians access to diagnostic information."
The new anatomic mapping technology is currently undergoing review by the Federal Food and Drug Administration and, will likely be commercially available during the year 2000. The technology is currently being evaluated in clinical trials.
GE Medical Systems is a leading global manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment and services, including conventional and digital x-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear medicine and healthcare information management. For more than 100 years, healthcare providers have relied on GE Medical Systems to provide high-quality imaging technology, services and productivity solutions. GE Medical Systems is a $6 billion business, employing nearly 20,000 people worldwide. |
