Two new software applications for conducting coronary CT angiography (CTA) studies are spearheading GE Healthcare's new product launches at this week's American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in Chicago.
The Chalfont St. Giles, U.K., company is launching CardIQ Xpress 2.0 and CardIQ Function Xpress, two new applications designed to make coronary CTA exams easier to perform by automating many of the tasks that currently require manual intervention for processing the studies.
CardIQ Xpress 2.0 cuts image reconstruction time from minutes to seconds, according to the company. Features include automated coronary vessel tracking with an accuracy of 93% or greater, and relative perfusion and views similar to an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image that give physicians additional information, including myocardial tissue and plaque analysis.
CardIQ Function Express makes it easier for physicians to derive functional information from a five-beat cardiac exam. The software can calculate automated ejection fraction of the left ventricle, right ventricle, and left atrium, and has improved workflow at some centers by up to 75%, according to the company.
The two new applications are available on GE's AW workstation and will be available for purchase in April. Both have received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance.
In other ACC news, GE is launching Vivid S5, a new mobile cardiovascular ultrasound system. The scanner is designed as a dedicated cardiovascular system for all patient-care areas, from hospitals and clinics to physician offices.
Vivid S5 supports stress-echo imaging and raw-data DICOM, and includes a 17-inch LCD monitor, four active transducer connectors, and room for onboard peripherals. The system weighs less than 160 lb, and includes backward compatibility with the rest of GE's Vivid scanner family.
In other ACC news, GE reported that IVUS development partner Volcano of San Diego has made enhancements to its s5i IVUS platform that include the company's Revolution rotational IVUS catheter and support for fractional flow reserve (FFR). The s5i system is used to provide IVUS imaging on GE's Innova IVUS cardiovascular cath lab system.
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