The SIGNA PET/MR incorporates GE’s MR-compatible silicon photomultiplier detector (SiPM) technology and fast coincidence timing resolution enabling time-of-flight (TOF) reconstruction, which leads to improved PET image quality with higher structural detail and improved signal-to-noise ratio.
With TOF reconstruction, the arrival times of each coincident pair of photons are more precisely detected, and the time difference between them is used to localize the positron emission tomography (PET) signal accurately.
According to GE, the new digital detector is up to three times more sensitive than conventional PET technology. GE has designed the SIGNA PET/MR to be fully upgradable from a Discovery MR750w 3.0T.
The SIGNA PET/MR is powered by simultaneous image acquisition from GE’s latest 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) technology and PET technology.
It will help clinicians achieve improved scan efficiency for treatment of oncology, neurology, and cardiology.
Research systems have been installed at Stanford University, University of California San Francisco, and University of Zurich.
Stanford University Medical Center Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging division co-chief and Radiology associate professor Dr Andrei Iagaru said: "We are excited about SIGNA PET/MR because of its clinical and research potential.
"We have been using the system for research and we are able to explore novel things in areas like neurology and oncology, as well as in pediatrics in the future.
"Additionally, it’s more convenient for the patient due to simultaneous scanning. We can also initiate innovative, complex research; simultaneity allows us to do functional neuro imaging, cardiac imaging, and musculoskeletal imaging that we haven’t been able to do before.
"Time-of-flight offers improved image quality in PET/MR and with the increased detector sensitivity, it may lead to future improvements in dose reduction."
SIGNA PET/MR is not available for sale in the US and is not yet CE Marked.
Image: GE Healthcare’s SIGNA PET/MR. Photo: Courtesy of Business Wire/ GE Healthcare
