GE Healthcare unveiled Discovery IQ, an advanced Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) molecular imaging system designed in India for the world. The new Discovery IQ is the result of $15 million (Rs 90 crores) investment, and three years of close collaborative development with Indian nuclear medicine physicians and oncologists, according to a company release. Reportedly, the new GE Discovery IQ PET/CT comes with advanced early disease detection capabilities as well as measurements to understand patient’s response to cancer treatment.
“Three years back, we promised to develop an advanced yet affordable PET/CT to improve access to early cancer detection. We are proud that we have realised that commitment today with the launch of Discovery IQ – an advanced PET/CT that is 40 per cent more affordable and can usher in personalised treatment for the patient. We are thankful to the Indian healthcare providers for their close collaboration and insights into their needs that helped develop this important weapon against cancer,” said Terri Bresenham, President and CEO, GE Healthcare South Asia.
“Molecular imaging is the epitome of healthcare imaging technologies. GE is very pleased to demonstrate to the world India’s capabilities in developing the most sophisticated medical technologies.” she added. GE’s Discovery IQ, is a step GE has taken to help improve affordability and accessibility to this critical tool that can enable early detection and treatment of cancer. GE’s new Discovery IQ is scalable to fit the needs of the many Indian healthcare providers and is built on a platform that is upgradable on site to meet the increasing demands of a hospital, making it a secure and affordable long term investment to provide continuous, superior care over the years.
“We know that cancer patients don’t always respond to their initial course of treatment,” said R Sureshkumar, General Manager, PET/CT Product Development, GE Healthcare. “If we can give clinicians a more accurate and reliable solution to determine early whether the treatment is working or not, they will be able to tailor a regimen of therapies according to individual patient response and needs.”
One of the key innovations that comes with GE’s Discovery IQ is Q.Clear^ technology that can provide up to two times improvement in PET quantitative accuracy (SUVmean) and up to two times improvement in image quality (signal-to-noise ratio). Reportedly, the reconstruction technology shows the advantage of full convergence PET imaging without any compromise between quantitation and image quality.
“With affordable Discovery IQ PET/CT from GE Healthcare, PET/CT can become an integral part of cancer care management for every cancer centres in India. Clinicians will now have ready access to tools that will allow evidence based and cost effective treatment. Together with our customers, we are focused on improving access, quality and affordable cancer care for the patient”, said R Balamurugan, Director, Oncology, GE Healthcare South Asia.
EH News Bureau