U.S. FDA Clears GE Healthcare's New Wide Bore Computed Tomography System; Industry's Most Powerful Wide Bore 16-Slice Technology Designed for Radiation Oncology and Radiology Communities.

WAUKESHA, Wis. -- GE's New Wide Bore Technology Designed for Two Unique Clinical Focus Areas

E[acute accent]GE Healthcare today announced it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the company's new wide bore computed tomography (CT) system. This new technology, the world's most powerful 16-slice wide bore CT system, will be available in two configurations. The LightSpeed RT16 enables advanced imaging for radiation therapy planning, and the LightSpeed Xtra is a premium 16-slice CT scanner designed for radiology needs such as trauma, interventional and bariatric procedures.

E[acute accent]TECHNOLOGY LEADER IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY - LIGHTSPEED RT16

E[acute accent]As the imaging demands for Radiation Therapy planning increase, the LightSpeed RT16 is uniquely positioned to provide resolution, power and speed to meet extremely challenging clinical needs. With an extra large 80 cm gantry opening for better patient positioning, clinicians have freedom to see and access to the patient's entire anatomy. E[acute accent]"GE Healthcare is the technology leader in imaging for radiation oncology," said Gene Saragnese, vice president and general manager of the company's global Molecular Imaging and CT business. "GE was the first to market with multi-slice wide bore technology for radiation therapy, and now we have the most versatile wide bore system available."

E[acute accent]TECHNOLOGY LEADER IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY - LIGHTSPEED XTRA

E[acute accent]CT has rapidly become the diagnostic imaging modality of choice because of its ability to adapt and evolve. Yet, a number of patients are unable to undergo a CT scan because of the limitation of existing systems to accurately image large patients. E[acute accent]According to the American Obesity Association, over 20 percent of the U.S. population is obese, with six million Americans morbidly obese -- defined as more than 100 pounds above the recommended body weight. GE Healthcare's exclusive VT 2000 table has been optimized for accuracy of table movement when imaging large patients. Responding to the increased need to image large patients, the LightSpeed Xtra, the second configuration of GE's new Wide Bore CT technology, has gained clearance by the U.S. FDA for imaging of obese and morbidly obese patients. E[acute accent]LightSpeed Xtra provides exceptional image quality and productivity capabilities in a variety of clinical settings. Combined with high-speed helical imaging and wider bore, this system offers both clinical and productivity advantages for hospital emergency and trauma departments. E[acute accent]Boasting the industry's most powerful tube and generator, LightSpeed Xtra provides the foundation for improved image quality of virtually all patients at up to 800-peak mA. GE's Volara 24-bit Digital DAS (Data Acquisition System) reduces noise up to 33 percent, resulting in excellent image quality in signal starved areas or soft tissue low contrast. With the ability to generate 16 x 0.625 mm thin-slice imaging, the LightSpeed Xtra sets a new level of imaging excellence for large patients. E[acute accent]Responsible dose management is assured with the new 3D Dose Modulation, available on all new LightSpeed Series systems, resulting in up to 30 percent dose reduction. E[acute accent]LightSpeed Xtra will be compatible with GE's SmartView(TM) real-time CT Fluoroscopy technology, further enabling challenging interventional procedures, while offering the physician extended access to the patient within the 80cm bore.

E[acute accent]TECHNOLOGY LEADER IN SIMULATION - ADVANTAGE SIM MD

E[acute accent]Earlier this year, GE Healthcare announced the integration of its revolutionary Advantage 4D and Advantage SIM technology, fusing the capability of 4D imaging and planning to deliver the highest levels of precision and speed for radiotherapy. E[acute accent]AdvantageSIM(TM) MD is the latest generation of industry-leading simulation and localization technology from GE Healthcare. It takes motion management to the next level by seamlessly integrating 4D data into the planning process, and providing multi-modality/multi-phase simulation for the optimal use of state-of the art treatment methods, like IMRT and IGRT. E[acute accent]"GE listened to hundreds of radiation oncologists who told us that the ability to see and define the precise location of tumors and critical structures in motion using multiple modalities, including CT, PET & MR, simultaneously was a pressing need in radiation oncology planning," said Saragnese. "AdvantageSim MD with 4D provides the first multi-planar motion management software to capture the full range of motion of critical internal structures and lesions during respiration, providing a more accurate description of the target and its trajectory." E[acute accent]The exclusive AdvantageSim MD multi-dimensional display presents a real-time view of the anatomy in motion giving radiation oncologists the ability to see the true shape and trajectory of the tumor and critical structures, evaluate its full dynamic range of motion, and select a segment of the respiratory cycle for treatment that will offer the optimal benefit to the patient. Utilization in radiation oncology is made possible with dedicated accessories including laser positioning lights and flat tabletop to optimize oncology applications. Advanced applications utilizing acquired data from LightSpeed RT16 are further enabled by up to 16 frames-per-second (fps) reconstruction capabilities and 4D respiratory gating compatibility.

E[acute accent]ABOUT GE HEALTHCARE

E[acute accent]GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform and treat disease, so their patients can live their lives to the fullest. E[acute accent]GE Healthcare's broad range of products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases, and other conditions earlier. Our vision for the future is to enable a new "early health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $15 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 43,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.