GE Medical Systems Unveils 4D Ultrasound Breakthrough; Technology Uses Real-Time Motion to Help Physicians Monitor Pregnancies And Medical Conditions.

Business Editors/Medical Writers

LOS ANGELES and MILWAUKEE--(BW HealthWire)--May 8, 2002

GE Medical Systems, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), today unveiled new ultrasound technology that displays clinical images of the human body, allowing physicians and patients to see revolutionary "4D images." The fourth dimension is "real-time motion" added to three-dimensional images. This technology has the potential to expand diagnostic capabilities, therapy planning and ultrasound-guided minimally invasive diagnostic procedures such as biopsies. The technology is being displayed this week at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's (ACOG) annual meeting in Los Angeles.

Ultrasound is a safe and generally non-invasive way for physicians to see inside the human body. Traditional ultrasound images are two-dimensional, forcing a doctor to create three-dimensional images in his/her mind.

"For the untrained eye, traditional 2D ultrasound images can be difficult to read," said Ilan E. Timor-Tritsch, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, New York University Medical Center. "GE's 4D ultrasound technology makes it very easy for me to show my patients what they are viewing inside their body, especially expectant parents seeing their baby for the first time."

"On other ultrasound systems, my doctor pointed to my baby's anatomy on the monitor and I couldn't understand what the doctor was trying to explain," said Michelle Tooms, a patient from Mansfield, Texas. "With GE's 4D ultrasound, the quality was amazing. I even think I saw the baby smile. The images made me feel close her."

Widely recognized for its clinical use in obstetrics and gynecology, 4D ultrasound with real-time motion is a new, powerful tool that can aid physicians studying the baby's motion and behavior, the baby's surface anatomy, and problems related to a woman's uterus and ovaries.

In addition to obstetrics, GE 4D ultrasound with real-time motion has future potential to help patients at risk for breast and prostate cancer and other conditions. The system's 3D multi-planar view also can help physicians performing biopsies. With these capabilities, physicians can see suspect lesions in three planes, simultaneously ensuring precise needle placement.

"Physicians have told us they need high-tech solutions that improve the quality of care, while also improving patient confidence," said Joseph M. Hogan, President and CEO of GE Medical Systems. "GE's 4D ultrasound with real-time motion gives doctors the information they need while creating images that patients can easily understand."

The system, named the GE Voluson 730, is installed at nearly 200 hospitals, clinics and physicians' offices around the United States and in 600 locations around the world. GE expects to have more than 1,500 systems in use by the end of this year. "Voluson" is short for volumetric sonography.

Patients and physicians can learn more about 4D ultrasound with real-time motion by visiting gemedicalsystems.com/4D.

About GE Medical Systems

GE Medical Systems is an $8 billion global leader in medical imaging, interventional procedures, healthcare services, and information technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, clinical information systems, patient monitoring systems, surgery and vascular imaging, conventional and digital X-ray, computed tomography, electron beam tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry, positron emission tomography, nuclear medicine, and a comprehensive portfolio of clinical and business services. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Medical Systems for high quality medical technology and productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Medical Systems Web site at gemedical.com.