High-Def CT Scanner Hits U.S. Market
The new LightSpeed CT750HD, designed and manufactured by GE Healthcare, was granted marketing clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company previously showcased the new imaging system at last year’s RSNA meeting and the federal blessing was described in an article published by Health Imaging.
The scintillator design of the LightSpeed is created through modifications to the molecular structure of garnets. By employing bright yellow garnets, the scintillator is able to deliver images 100 times faster than with standard design. This provides significantly improved rates of image detail; 33 percent throughout the entire body and 47 percent in the heart alone.
The Gemstone Spectral Imaging system completes as many as 2,496 views during each rotation; a 250 percent increase. This increase in rotations provides greater image quality and improvements in spatial resolution across the entire field of view.
In addition, the LightSpeed captures 128 slices of data during each rotation along with 101 user selectable energy levels that can be viewed. Incorporated dual energy kV switching supports energies more than 165 times faster than are achieved with dual-souce CT while at a speed of 0.33 rotations.
The LightSpeed further reduces calcium blooming artifacts as a result of the improved image resolution. This supports quantification of stenosis. Data collected during bench trials indicates that the machine can accurately assess 75 percent stenosis on a vessel of 3mm within 100 microns.
GE also noted that the system further has low contrast detection. Image quality is improved while the radiation dose delivered is reduced by as much as half across the entire body. For cardiac scans, the dose of radiation delivered is reduced by nearly 83 percent.
Froedtert Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee will be the first institution to install the LightSpeed. The company expects to begin commercial shipments shortly.
May 14, 2008 Related topics: Product Approval & Certification, Imaging, Diagnostic, Radiology