PET/CT Scanner Optimized to Streamline Workflow

At the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2010, held in March 2010 in Vienna, Austria, Philips Healthcare (Best, The Netherlands) launched the Gemini LXL PET/CT scanner, offering many of the features available on premium systems for those working in the clinical areas of both radiology and oncology. Also making its European debut is DoseAware, a new dose-saving solution for interventional procedures.

Featured in the Gemini LXL are workflow improvements and the availability of a "One-Touch” couch motion enabler. Streamlined workflow is also included for cardiac scanning, from easier cardiac gating setup and data storage to a cardiac alignment application that simplifies the process of cardiac realignment. The system features cutting-edge crystal and detector technology, optimized system sensitivity for clinical procedures, and improved image quality with optimized reconstruction and image processing. It also enables improved accuracy with patient motion management due to its four dimensional (4D) PET/CT imaging capabilities.

Modern crystals and detector technology have been used for the Gemini LXL, which significantly improves image quality and leads to a faster output of scans. Not only can it be used for imaging in the oncology field, but it can also be adjusted with various cardiac applications such as Emory Cardiac Toolbox and Cedars AutoQuant.

High-definition PET reconstruction and 4D PET/CT imaging (optional) enhance the image quality, resulting in optimized reconstruction and improved accuracy with patient motion management. "The Gemini LXL offers in-demand technologies in a highly cost-efficient system,” stated Dominic Smith, vice president of marketing. "This is the first time premium imaging performance has been accessible to such a wide range of healthcare operations.”

The PET/CT scanner will be released in the second quarter of 2010.

As healthcare guidelines continually shift, both care providers and patients have concerns about potential risks caused by high radiation dose. Knowing this, Philips' latest innovation is DoseAware, which allows for real time feedback to all of the people in the fluoroscopic suite. DoseAware allows the team members to make almost instantaneous improvements in order to minimize their respective X-ray dose during a procedure.

"DoseAware is one of the most important new tools available to help reduce unnecessary medical radiation exposure to physicians and staff. It's a much easier and practical way to monitor levels than conventional methods. Creating a safer work environment is not only the right thing to do, but our obligation,” stated Jane Kiah, director cardiac and vascular services at Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute (Miami, FL, USA).

The invisible nature of radiation makes the real time assessment of radiation dose critical. DoseAware consists of wireless real-time radiation badges, worn by all members of the team, and quantitatively displaying the scattered X-ray dose being absorbed by every member. The base station hangs adjacent to the imaging monitors and displays the amount of dose being exposed to on the screen. This allows for instantaneous feedback by the operator to reduce X-ray dose, similar to using a shield, stepping back a few feet, or lowering the detector. They are all quantitatively demonstrated to the operators in the room during the procedure and serve as positive reinforcement. The fact that the operators can immediately review the effect of their actions, completes the feedback loop and helps to develop a healthy way of working. In the longer term, DoseAware will allow for a more comprehensive evaluation utilizing the time stamped recorded X-ray dose information.

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