e-SpeedTM
The GE e-SpeedTM
scanner, the world’s
fastest computed tomography (CT) imaging platform, delivers a
new advanced tool for physicians to see and diagnose heart
disease.
Revolutionary Technology in the
Fight Against Heart Disease
e-Speed is an
important technology for physicians and patients with known or
suspected heart disease, because it is a non-invasive solution
for assisting in obtaining critical cardiac diagnosis in less
than 15 minutes. Cardiac CT imaging is challenging because the
coronary arteries are constantly in motion. The mid-right
coronary artery moves five-times its own diameter in under 300
milliseconds.
EBTTM
Technology
The GE e-Speed
uses a patented technology called Electron Beam TomographyTM
(EBTTM),
which enables the scanner to perform high-speed, high-volume
imaging to create motion-free visualizations of the heart and
vessels.
The difference
between EBT and CT technology is that EBT features an electron
beam that is focused onto one of four tungsten target rings
positioned beneath the patient. Because there are no moving
parts besides the patient table, the design is free from the
limitations of centrifugal force, enabling it to achieve the
fastest scan speeds. For example, the e-Speed can scan 10 times
faster than any conventional CT system.
EBT creates
images like a CT scan, but with a faster “shutter speed”, or
scan speed. Fast scan speeds are required to allow medical
specialists to see pictures of the beating heart, arteries and
vessels. For the patient, an EBT scan is a simple and fast exam.
Relevance to Heart Disease
With the GE
e-Speed, physicians can now help determine the extent of heart
disease in patients without or prior to invasive procedures.
Physicians can see the heart's wall motion, blood flow and
perfusion, as well as measure coronary calcification and assess
plaque.
Specific
e-Speed Features: Speed and Resolution
The e-Speed is
the only imaging technology that offers 33, 50, or 100ms True
Temporal ResolutionTM
images at up to 30 frames per second. This type of capability is
important because the fastest possible scan modes are required
to image high and irregular heart beats often associated with
patients with heart disease.
The GE e-Speed
features additional proprietary technologies including FlexPhaseTM
triggering and eVoxelTM
clarity to better capture images of moving heart and the very
small coronary vessels. For example, FlexPhase capability allows
physicians to capture images exactly when they need them, at any
point or points in the R-to-R interval.
Relevant Statistics
• Cardiovascular
disease is the leading cause of death in the Americas and Europe
Cardiovascular disease contributes to one out of three deaths
worldwide. 949,619 Americans died from cardiovascular disease in
1998 (latest available statistics)
• 17 million
people around the world die of cardiovascular disease, according
to the World Health Organization
• More than 60
million people in the United States have one or more types of
cardiovascular disease
• An estimated
3.4 million cardiac cath procedures are performed annually,
according to IMV Medical Information Division
History & Development
• EBT technology
was first cleared by the FDA in 1983
• GE Medical
Systems completed the acquisition of Imatron, Inc., the pioneer
in the development of EBT scanners in 2001
• GE Imatron
receives 510(K) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for e-Speed in October 2002
For information
about GE Medical Systems
click here.
