Saturday, June 24, 2023
GE HealthCare is gearing up to unveil its latest offering, the SIGNA PET/MR AIR[i], at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2023 annual meeting. This state-of-the-art system combines GE HealthCare's advanced AIR technologies with the SIGNA PET/MR AIR platform, aiming to enhance diagnostic precision, simplify treatment evaluation, and improve patient comfort.
Recent FDA approvals of new PET radiotracers and therapeutic approaches for high-prevalence diseases like prostate cancer and Alzheimer's Disease highlight the need for reliable and comprehensive imaging solutions throughout the patient care journey. The integration of GE HealthCare's unique AIR technologies into SIGNA PET/MR AIR addresses the evolving demands of these patient populations. These technologies include AIR Coils, which enhance patient comfort, AIR Recon DL, which improves MR image quality and reduces scan time, and MotionFree Brain[ii], which mitigates motion-related PET image degradation.
One notable breakthrough in prostate cancer care is the introduction of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiotracers for imaging diagnostics and theranostics, which combine diagnosis and therapy. By integrating PSMA-targeted PET radiotracers with GE HealthCare's high sensitivity PET and the anatomical precision of MRI in the SIGNA PET/MR AIR system, it holds great potential for precise diagnosis, staging/re-staging of prostate cancer, and aiding in the selection of patients for subsequent PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy[iii].
SIGNA PET/MR AIR incorporates deep learning-based MR image reconstruction with AIR Recon DL, ensuring improved image quality and up to a 50% reduction in scan time[iv]. GE HealthCare's AIR Coil technology seamlessly conforms to the shape of the human body, enhancing MR imaging quality while prioritizing patient comfort. This innovative technology provides a thinner, lighter solution, allowing for more accurate PET quantitation compared to traditional rigid RF coils.
Addressing the challenges in Alzheimer's Disease, which affects a significant population of approximately 6.7 million Americans and 55 million people worldwide, GE HealthCare is committed to delivering products and solutions for accurate diagnosis, effective therapy planning, and continuous monitoring of the disease[v].
The recent approval of drugs with disease-modifying potential necessitates additional imaging using both MR and PET. The SIGNA PET/MR AIR system incorporates the industry's most sensitive Time-of-Flight (ToF) PET detector in a PET/MR setup, enabling clinicians to achieve early diagnosis, gain insights into disease progression, and detect adverse effects in a single scan.
To overcome the issue of patient movement during imaging exams, MotionFree Brain PET is an advanced solution integrated into the SIGNA PET/MR AIR system. This technology effectively manages motion without relying on external tracking devices, ensuring consistent image quality even in challenging patients. It has the potential to enable faster and more accurate diagnoses while minimizing the need for repeat scans.
Jie Xue, President and CEO of MR at GE HealthCare, expressed, "The SIGNA PET/MR AIR system continues our legacy of delivering innovative technologies that address a comprehensive range of clinical diseases. Our latest PET/MR technology will directly impact the most challenging diseases, such as prostate cancer and Alzheimer's Disease. These diseases require precise and comprehensive imaging for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapy monitoring. We are excited to see SIGNA PET/MR AIR addressing these challenges and fulfilling our vision of providing access to advanced, personalized care."
The introduction of the SIGNA PET/MR AIR system demonstrates GE HealthCare's commitment to empowering healthcare professionals with exceptional tools to enhance patient care and improve outcomes in the ever-evolving field of medical imaging.
https://www.gehealthcare.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/ge-healthcare-advances-petmr-capabilities-with-air-technologies?utm_source=Newsroom&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=Newsroom_Feeds&_ga=2.217179026.502558806.1687772771-213642163.1685509623
