Focus on image quality and reliability with GE's advanced range of CT systems

GE's LightSpeed VCT XT helps clinicians obtain excellent images of a patient's heart with up to a 70 per cent reduction in dose per exam independent of heart rate

Dubai, UAE; January 29, 2007: GE Healthcare unveils its new advanced range of computed tomography (CT) scanners that provide clinicians with exceptional image quality, productivity and reliability, at Arab Health 2007. These CT scanners are showcased at GE's stand at the premier health sector exhibition being held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre through February 1.

GE launches the next generation of the company's smallest, multi-detector BrightSpeed CT scanner - the Select series; as well as the LightSpeed VCT XT scanner that maintains outstanding image quality and CT Perfusion 4 Neuro analysis software package, which provides reliable assessment of the type and extent of cerebral perfusion disturbances.

Reducing Radiation Exposure for Diagnostic Cardiac Scans

GE's LightSpeed VCT XT maintains outstanding image quality while reducing a patient's radiation exposure by up to 70 per cent for diagnostic cardiac scans. It builds on the foundation of GE's advanced CT platform, and is capable of capturing images of the heart and coronary arteries in as few as five heartbeats. 

LightSpeed VCT XT now includes hardware and enhanced applications that will allow users to add the clinical value of volume CT by providing new capabilities for imaging the heart, head, and other body parts. "The LightSpeed VCT XT provides clarity, additional information and helps to generate confident physician diagnoses while reducing radiation exposure in diagnostic cardiac scans," said Isam Moursy, General Manager at GE Healthcare for the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Turkey (MEACAT) region.

With the SnapShot Pulse, an automated response to a patient's heart rate, the LightSpeed VCT XT ensures that the X-ray is only on for portions of a scan. This process, called prospective triggered gating, significantly reduces a patient's X-ray exposure time. 

BrightSpeed Select - attracts healthcare facilities with single slice CT systems

GE Healthcare has re-imagined multi-detector CT capabilities through continuous improvements of the BrightSpeed series, attracting the interest of a broad audience of healthcare facilities which have single slice CT systems.

"By bringing the innovations of our LightSpeed VCT to the new BrightSpeed Select, we are giving more clinicians access to excellent image quality and, in turn, helping them provide better patient care," added Moursy.

GE's BrightSpeed series is popular with a variety of clinical settings because it is powerful and easy-to-use. The BrightSpeed Select also includes 4-, 8-, 16-slice systems in addition to the current BrightSpeed series.

CT Perfusion 4 Neuro - an analysis software package

GE's CT Perfusion 4 Neuro is an analysis software package that aids in the assessment of the extent and type of perfusion, blood volume and capillary permeability changes, which may relate to stroke or tumor angiogenesis and the treatment thereof. It provides quick and reliable assessment of the type and extent of cerebral perfusion disturbances by providing qualitative and quantitative information on various perfusion-related parameters such as regional blood flow, regional blood volume, mean transit time, capillary permeability and Tissue Classification Index.

"GE Healthcare focuses on an 'early health' model of care as outlined by our "Healthcare Re-imagined" vision. GE provides transformational medical technologies and services that are helping to shape a new age of patient care," said Moursy. "Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform and treat disease, so their patients can live their lives to the fullest."

GE Healthcare is lining up its latest range of innovative diagnostic imaging technologies and solutions at Arab Health 2007, and is also the gold sponsor of the Middle East Imaging and Diagnostic Congress, running concurrently with the annual Arab Health exhibition.

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About GE Healthcare:
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform, treat and monitor disease, so patients can live their lives to the fullest.

GE Healthcare's broad range of products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and other conditions earlier. Our vision for the future is to enable a new "early health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention.

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a US$17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people 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 further information, please contact:         
Kelly Home / Nedal Alassad
ASDA'A Public Relations,
Exclusive Affiliate of Edelman PR Worldwide in Middle East and North Africa
Tel: (+971 4) 334 4550
Email: k.home@asdaa.com /n.alassad@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2007