GE Spotlights SnapShot Pulse for 70 Percent Dose Reduction in CTA

October 25, 2007 - GE Healthcare displayed its SnapShot Pulse technology designed to maintain high computed tomography (CT) image quality while reducing a patient’s radiation exposure by up to 70 percent per scan for Cardiovascular CT, at TCT 2007.
SnapShot Pulse software enables the CT system to automatically pulse with a patient’s heartbeat, turning the X-rays on and off at desired times during the heart rate cycle. In standard cardiac CT exams, the CT is on for the duration of a scan, even during periods when a patient’s heart is at an undesirable phase. Since SnapShot Pulse only keeps the x-ray active for optimal phases of a scan, it reportedly significantly reduces a patient’s radiation exposure time.
In addition, SnapShot Pulse’s automated scanning table enables a multi-slice scanner to perform full CT angiographic (CTA) studies. These studies involve the table shifting from one location to the next, imaging the entire volume of the patient’s heart. In addition, with SnapShot Pulse, a patient’s heart rate is tracked real-time, with the X-ray and acquisition time driven by each patient. By combining these features, clinicians are reportedly able to obtain high quality images with the lowest possible dose exposure.

For more information: www.gehealthcare.com