[Read the full Industry Sector Report on Bone Densitometers in the July 2008 issue of DOTmed Business News or online at https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/6263/]

An Inside Look at GE's iDXA Fan Beam System


GE Healthcare's Lunar division offers bone densitometry systems, stressing their capabilities in the new fan beam technology to measure bone mineral density (BMD).

GE's fan beam design triangulates on bone using multiple angles, similar to CT image reconstruction. This approach has several advantages, according to GE, including accommodation of changing patient body size and height from tabletop and eliminating distortion from operator performance. The fan beam technology is deployed in GE's flagship Lunar iDXA system. (The "i" stands for intelligent.)

"What is different with the [Lunar iDXA] is very crisp image resolution. Even though BMD is a quantitative measurement, when you give the assessment you can actually visualize existing fractures because the image quality is that good," explained Gitte Andreasen, Director of Global Marketing, Lunar Division, GE Healthcare. She noted that the iDXA also accommodates patients up to 450 pounds. "As the patient population grows heavier because of the obesity problem, we have seen the need to increase the table weight capability and the size of the table."

GE also shared with DOTmed News some important technological details about the iDXA: The design features a direct to digital detector, which GE said is an advance beyond the scintillators normally used to convert images to digital. The direct digital platform, called CZT, is more efficient, resulting in lower dose, faster scans, and greater precision. Another competitive advantage claimed by GE is that the iDXA can scan both the lumbar spine and bilateral femur without repositioning the patient. Body composition assessment is another feature.

Some additional details: Computer technology automatically checks for patient positioning, bone edges, and artifacts. The system spits out detailed reports in an easy-to-read template, which doctors can customize. (Bone density assessment is based on comparison to reference groups and these can be selected from among common standards, or set by the doctor.) Not surprisingly, the system provides connectivity and interoperability using the latest compatibility for file sharing, document management and integration.

The body composition feature of GE bone densitometers warrants a second look since metabolic diseases are of increasing concern for general practitioners and specialists alike. GE's systems provide a direct measure of fat, lean and bone mass with visual mapping to help monitor patients.

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