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GE Healthcare showcases full range of molecular imaging diagnostic technologies at Arab Health 2011

GE Healthcare invests in Sequential Imaging with Integrated Registration (PET+MR)

Strong applications across public and private sector healthcare establishments in the Gulf region

Dubai, UAE, January 29, 2011: Combining the power of anatomical and functional scanning with biological tracers, GE Healthcare is helping clinicians to detect and diagnose disease earlier, and to evaluate treatment efficacy more quickly.

This is highlighted with GE Healthcare's display of a comprehensive range of technologies and services from pre-clinical to radiopharmaceutical and clinical solutions at Arab Health 2011, the world's second largest healthcare exhibition being held until January 27 at the Dubai International Convention Center.

Vice President and General Manager of GE Healthcare's Molecular Imaging business Terri Bresenham said, "Our heritage in healthcare innovation and our proven capability to bring clinically-relevant applications to the market is helping to set the standard in molecular imaging today and to be prepared for the future. From drug development to helping clinicians fight disease with advance imaging for oncology, cardiology and neurology, GE Healthcare offers a total solution of technology, products and services to support clinicians along the entire molecular imaging pathway to help customers understand disease from the beginning."

Investing in Sequential Imaging with Integrated Registration (PET+MR)

GE Healthcare is investing in the development of a system utilizing sequential imaging with Integrated registration that will consist of two scanning devices with a shared transport system and the latest image registration application running on the Advantage Workstation, allowing a patient to be moved from one device (PET/CT) to the other device (MR) without changing positions on the table.

"Today, for some applications, patients receive a PET/CT and MRI scan, but these images may be obtained at different times, under different conditions and while the patient is in a different position," said Vivek Bhatt, general manager GE Healthcare PET/CT. "Sequential integrated registration effectively addresses that limitation to enable applications requiring accurate registration of PET/CT and MR images, and at the same time it allows an efficient use of high value assets for routine standalone clinical exams without compromising image quality of either of those modalities."

Increasing Efficiency, Reducing Exam Times

The most commonly performed Nuclear Medicine procedure--whole body bone imaging--which includes a whole body planar and at least one position SPECT/CT, and traditionally required over 35 minutes to complete, has been shortened to approximately 16 minutes imaging time with the advanced Discovery NM/CT 670.

The Discovery NM/CT 670 advanced hybrid imaging platform is designed to improve workflow, dose management and overall image quality. The system combines a newly designed SPECT gantry for greater positional flexibility, the latest in Nuclear Medicine detectors and GE Healthcare's BrightSpeed Elite 16 slice CT. The Discovery NM/CT 670 incorporates flexible and proven workflow technology advancements from 11 years of Infinia Hawkeye innovations and installations with a modular gantry, designed to embrace tomorrow's technology today. And now the Infinia™ Hawkeye™ HD Enhanced is benefitting from advanced applications first introduced on the Discovery NM/CT 670, including Cardiac Morphing, Volumetrix™ MI and the Evolution Toolkit further expanding the capabilities of this hybrid solution.

The first Discovery 670 was signed in King Saud bin Abdul Aziz University Research Center in Riyadh - Kingdom of Suadi Arabia after complete evaluation of the Technology & unique clinical applications which reflects the technology leadership of GE Healthcare & will help the research center in the running research projects.

Image reconstruction can make or break clinical workflow schedules. With IBM Blade Center ® now available on the Discovery PET/CT 600 and 690 scanners, VUE Point FX reconstruction is now up to two times faster at less than 75 seconds per bed position and the patient scan can be reviewed while still on the table. The scan itself is also more efficient with a 2-meter scan option that allows clinicians to complete an entire head to toe examination in one scan.

Moving seamlessly between PET and CT scans, Motion Match, the GE Healthcare motion management feature, allows clinicians to prescribe, acquire and process both PET and CT gated images--phase match and view gated studies automatically; visualize dual-gated studies simultaneously on the console and see both the cardiac and respiratory triggers in real time. In addition, clinicians see the acquisition immediately, with up to 60 percent better contrast to noise of moving lesions over static acquisitions.

The first Discovery 690 Fx is installed in National Gaurds Hospital - Riyadh in cardiology department which will mainly cover PET/CT cardiology examination using Rubidium generators. This is the first dedicated cardiology PET/CT center in the Middle East. GE Healthcare proven technology leadership in PET/CT field will be the technology platform the center is starting the service with exclusive clinical cardiology applications as main target in addition to oncology applications.

As well the first PET/CT in Bahrain (Discovery 600) was signed at King Hamad University Hospital. GE as usual is the technology leader in introducing this technology to imaging speciality in Bahrain that will reflect on improving very small lesions detectability, improving cancer patients diagnosis & treatment management.

Driving Innovation

GE Healthcare has introduced the Discovery PET/CT 690 with BrightSpeed Elite CT. The BrightSpeed Elite CT provides advanced imaging and applications capabilities, further enhancing imaging quality and diagnostic confidence. Continuing to expand access and advance the possibilities for imaging excellence, GE Healthcare offers SharpIR, a sophisticated iterative reconstruction enhancement to VUE Point HD and VUE Point FX, across the entire Discovery PET/CT 600 series platform. Through advanced system modeling, SharpIR enhances visual contrast and resolution in both whole-body and brain PET images. With the convergence of two sophisticated iterative reconstruction processes on a single integrated PET/CT platform, users receive a boost in clinical confidence with the addition of AsiR* and SharpIR capabilities.

Complete Solutions in PET Radiopharmacy

A recent addition to the TRACERcenter GMP™ platform of advanced instrumentation, comprehensive GMP training and consulting services, TRACERcenter 710S™ is a cost effective, upgradeable solution for customers establishing their own infrastructure platform for radiotracer research, production or distribution. The TRACERcenter 710S provides the capability to produce tracers for oncology, and offers additional tracer production possibilities with upgrade packages for neurology and cardiology. Primarily targeted for researchers, GE has added to the TRACERlab™ FX FN, a widely- used generic platform for 18F tracers, with the TRACERlab™ FX N Pro, that will be equipped with a second reactor for more versatility and will be available later this year.

GE Healthcare has also expanded its FASTlab™ platform. FASTlab is a high productivity platform to synthesize PET radiopharmaceuticals for consistent pharmaceutical quality and high yield. In addition to the existing cassettes for 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF, GE Healthcare is introducing cassettes for 18F-FLT and 18F-FMISO in 2011. In addition, the company is offering an alternative FDG cassette that will utilize the widely- used synthesis method of the TRACERlab MX system.

Building upon GE Healthcare's legacy in radiopharmaceuticals and chemistry, PETtrace 880™ joins the company's PETtrace family of cyclotrons. The PETtrace 880 offers greater power and record reliability, combined with increased production capacity and tracer portfolio, allowing customers to establish, upgrade and operate their own comprehensive research or clinical PET tracer production center with confidence.

GE Healthcare Sponsors ESTRO/EANM Guidelines for use of PET in Radiotherapy Planning

Both the clinical data and editorial commentary outlined in the guidelines, which were published in Radiotherapy and Oncology, indicate the most appropriate uses for PET in radiotherapy planning across many tumor types.

GE Healthcare supported the work of the task force to develop these guidelines with an unrestricted educational grant. This is consistent with GE 's healthymagination initiative that focuses on improvements to cost, quality, and access in healthcare. Until now, information on the role of PET in radiotherapy planning has not been consolidated in such a way that gives the physician a clear view on the most appropriate uses for PET in conjunction with radiotherapy. By supporting such an initiative, GE Healthcare aims to demonstrate its continued commitment not only to better technology for managing cancer, but also as a contributor to solutions for greater access to this technology to patient care providers.

GE Healthcare, a Platinum Sponsor of Arab Health 2011, is showcasing its innovative technologies, services and solutions at its pavilion, in Hall No 4, G30.

-Ends-

About GE Healthcare:
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE ). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries.

For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com. For our latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com/http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com.

For more information, contact:
Kelly Home / Nivine William
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
+9714 334 4550
k.home@asdaa.com / n.william@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2011