Hybrid SPECT/CT Platform Provides Imaging to More Patients with Reduced Dose

With the ability to combine the power of anatomic (computed tomography [CT]) and functional/molecular (SPECT) imaging, new technology helps provide greater diagnostic confidence in localization of disease.

A pioneer in hybrid SPECT/CT imaging technology, GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, UK) was first to bring to market a hybrid SPECT/CT product, the Hawkeye series, in 1999. To date, this technology is in operation in more than 1,300 healthcare settings worldwide, scanning more than 500,000 patients each year.

Focused on responsible dose management and reinforcing its "healthymagination” initiative, GE Healthcare has continued to maintain the flow of innovations to the Infinia Hawkeye series, culminating in its latest model, the Infinia Hawkeye HD Enhanced. the Infinia Hawkeye HD Enhanced offers the ability to deliver up to 50% lower nuclear medicine (NM) patient dose than standard cardiac and bone protocols and low CT dose ranging 0.1 mSv - 1.7 mSv for attenuation correction and localization purposes.

Furthermore, due to reduced siting requirements, reduced scan time, and one of the industry's lowest hybrid SPECT/CT cost of ownership, the Infinia Hawkeye HD Enhanced enables access to the hybrid SPECT/CT imaging technology to more patients. Moreover, Infinia Hawkeye 4 helps enhance clinician confidence and it is shown to change clinical interpretation in an average of 35% of SPECT/CT cases when compared to SPECT alone.

The Infinia Hawkeye HD Enhanced's SPECT helps clinicians focus on metabolic abnormalities that are present earlier than the anatomical changes can be seen with CT alone. Allowing registration of both images for a comprehensive pathology picture in a single exam, Infinia Hawkeye 4 helps physicians eliminate guesswork and enable them to plan better patient treatment.

Infinia Hawkeye HD Enhanced CT allows delivery of reduced effective dose to patients and may save patients from repeated and possibly unnecessary diagnostic CT scans through the aid of the Volumetrix IR, which accurately registers Infinia SPECT studies to external CT scans of the same patient using the Hawkeye CT scan as a bridge. Furthermore, with its Evolution application, the Infinia Hawkeye 4 delivers excellent SPECT and NM scan image quality at one-half the standard injectable dose.

GE Healthcare's Infinia Hawkeye HD Enhanced incorporates flexible and proven workflow technology advancements to help save time and costs by helping reduce total scan cycle time. Combining a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) worklist, fully IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise)-compliant MPPS (modality performance procedure step) with flexible "free-geometry” gantry, Infinia Hawkeye 4 streamlines the workflow by automating the setup, imaging, reporting, and archiving process.

Benefiting from advanced applications first introduced on the Discovery NM/CT 670, the Infinia Hawkeye 4 also offers cardiac morphing and Volumetrix MI, additionally expanding the capabilities of this hybrid solution. The Infinia Hawkeye 4 innovations are based on GE Healthcare's Evolution family of products, first available on the Discovery NM/CT 670.

Related Links:
GE Healthcare