Industry first modular, scalable CT platform from GE

CHICAGO – At the RSNA’s 2021 Annual Meeting, GE Healthcare introduced its Revolution Apex platform – an industry first computed tomography (CT) platform with built-in scalability for onsite CT detector upgrades from 40 mm to 80 mm or 160 mm detector coverage – all without replacing the gantry. Offering uncompromised clinical capabilities, the new Revolution Apex platform helps radiology departments stay ahead of the technology curve with a modular design that offers a seamless path to continuous hardware and software scalability and upgradability that will extend the lives of CT systems into the future.

Today’s radiology departments are under pressure like never before. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, steadily growing patient volumes, a rapid rise in the number of images generated, and increasingly complex image reviews are straining CT departments to their limits. What’s more, departments are facing these challenges as they attempt to battle industry-wide staff shortages and burnout.

Twenty years ago, new CT technologies were introduced every four-to-five years; but today, we see new solutions introduced annually. This is largely due to the pace of innovation today, which has greatly accelerated due to the speed and growth of modern engineering, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Because of these advancements, CT technology is becoming obsolete more quickly than ever before – resulting in 44 percent of facilities expressing challenges during their attempts to keep systems up to date.

With this challenge in mind, GE Healthcare developed a new, modular CT system design that enables hardware scalability so radiology departments and healthcare facilities can add service lines to accommodate evolving patient needs.

“In the past, we kept machines as long as possible, and we upgraded them with software. But if the hardware was obsolete, we removed it from the hospital. With the Apex, we have a platform with the latest technology and can easily upgrade as our clinical practice evolves,” said Dr. Johan de Mey, chair of Radiology at University Hospital Brussels in Belgium. “Additionally, if you have a machine that’s upgradable, you already know how to use it. You can immediately start doing exams on a higher level. And if you’re on the edge of research, this is huge. Being able to upgrade and work on the same platform and technology is much faster.”

The Revolution Apex platform was also developed with operational efficiency in mind. Studying radiology departments’ entire workflows and identifying opportunities to simplify and streamline processes, GE Healthcare developed Effortless Workflow, which utilizes AI technologies to automate much of the workflow, from pre-scan to post-scan – helping to reduce clicks, save time, and achieve exceptional efficiency and consistency in imaging.

The Revolution Apex platform is also designed to produce high quality CT images at the lowest possible radiation dose through TrueFidelity deep learning image reconstruction. TrueFidelity is GE Healthcare’s exceptional image reconstruction technology that uses a dedicated Deep Neural Network to generate high-definition, low-noise CT images.

Furthermore, the Revolution Apex platform is equipped with GE Healthcare’s patented Quantix X-ray tube – a powerful tube designed to provide the output necessary to comfortably image all anatomies regardless of patient size without compromising image quality.

The Revolution Apex platform is also built to seamlessly upgrade. After installation, facilities can stay ahead of evolving technological advancements with regular software upgrades that include new capabilities and workflow enhancements, as well as image quality, dose management, cybersecurity and service tools – all without learning a new user interface. The Revolution Apex platform also provides the industry’s first subscription-based service for CT applications, Smart Subscription, which enables easy access to the latest technology so radiologists can continue to deliver high-quality patient care.

“Given the volatility of today’s healthcare environment, it makes sense to have a system that is scalable to meet today and tomorrow’s evolving CT needs,” says Jean-Luc Procaccini, president and CEO, Molecular Imaging and Computed Tomography, GE Healthcare. “Understanding that healthcare systems are challenged to keep up to date with the latest cutting-edge CT technologies, we developed a new modular solution that can grow with healthcare systems – so they have what they need, when they need it. Altogether, we are incredibly proud of our Revolution Apex platform and are thrilled with the feedback we have received on its performance and usefulness.”

About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare is the $17 billion healthcare business of GE. As a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics and digital solutions innovator, GE Healthcare enables clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions through intelligent devices, data analytics, applications and services, supported by its Edison intelligence platform. With over 100 years of healthcare industry experience and around 47,000 employees globally, the company operates at the center of an ecosystem working toward precision health, digitizing healthcare, helping drive productivity and improving outcomes for patients, providers, health systems and researchers around the world. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Insights for the latest news, or visit our website www.gehealthcare.com for more information.