RSNA News: GE Healthcare Innovations Improve Patient Experience, Enable Better Clinical Results

At the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) 2017 annual meeting this week, GE Healthcare is showcasing its new imaging technologies, services, and digital solutions designed to improve patient experience, increase clinical confidence and heighten productivity.
 
“We’re pleased to showcase a range of innovations at this year’s RSNA. These are technologies that we’ve developed in close collaboration with our partners and customers,” said Kieran Murphy, president and CEO of GE Healthcare. “GE Healthcare’s focus is to leverage our medical, engineering and digital expertise to drive precision health and enhanced clinical outcomes.”
 
With the largest installed base globally, strong application leadership and more than 25 years of deep learning and artificial intelligence expertise, GE Healthcare is leveraging digital to realize clinical and operational outcomes across the healthcare industry. By combining software applications with best in class medical devices and services, GE is committed to help administrators and clinical staff deliver better patient outcomes more efficiently.
 
GE Healthcare is showcasing its accelerated digital commitment as well as the new AI-infused imaging applications, powered by GE Healthcare’s Applied Intelligence, at RSNA in the digital showcase inside the GE booth.
 
Improving Patient Experience
Magnetic Resonance is highly effective at imaging patients, but traditional coils can be bulky, heavy and rigid, causing discomfort to patients and technologists. GE Healthcare’s new suite of RF coils, AIR Technology, are now commercially available on SIGNA Premier, and are 60 percent lighter on the patient. The ultra-lightweight design makes it easier for the technologist to position the patient and addresses several clinical needs. AIR Coils look like a blanket and fit 99.9 percent of patients, with technology engineered for higher density channel count and increased SNR. SIGNA Premier wide bore 3.0T MRI system, now commercially available in the United States, features GE Healthcare’s latest, short-bore, high-homogeneity 3.0T superconductive magnet; the most powerful gradient system GE Healthcare has ever developed for a wide bore 3.0T system; and a new, digital RF transmit and receive architecture. It enables twice faster whole-body imaging compared to conventional scans, and 60 percent faster¹ images.
 
Senographe Pristina Dueta is an industry-first patient-assisted mammography device that literally puts women in control of their own mammograms. Designed by women for women, a wireless remote control allows patients to manage their own compression, under the supervision of a technologist, during the exam performed on GE Healthcare’s newest mammography system, Senographe Pristina. After the breast is properly positioned by the technologist, the patient has the option to adjust her compression using Pristina Dueta. Studies in Europe show four out of five patients using Pristina Dueta said it made the exam more comfortable, and more than half said the device led to less anxiety. Clinical evidence used in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation and clearance of Pristina Dueta shows use of the device does not compromise image quality or increase exam time. For women with dense breast tissue, supplemental screening may be recommended. The Invenia ABUS (Automated Breast Ultrasound System) is proven to increase invasive cancer detection by 55 percent and is the only FDA-approved ultrasound system for dense breast tissue screening when used in addition to mammography.
 
SenoBright HD is a next-generation Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM) diagnostic exam intended for patients who have just had an inconclusive mammogram or ultrasound, or are at high risk of breast cancer. SenoBright HD exams are performed at the same time, same location, and with the same mammography equipment—Senographe Pristina— 8. Percentage noted is based on various assumptions, including but not limited to the use of Tube Watch consistent with the Tube Watch terms and conditions, timely receipt of the tube-health notice, parts and labor availability, immediate access to customer’s equipment, and may not be typical of every customer’s experience.