*To manufacture India's first true digital flat panel based X-ray system -- Tejas DR-F under its 'In India, For India' program.
*Digital Flat Panel X-ray proven to provide highest image quality and lower radiation - provides higher safety to patients and healthcare professionals.
*India is home to 60000+ analog, 2 pulse, old x-ray technology.
*Tejas DR-F to cost 40% lower than imported digital X-ray; Can bring in significant operational cost efficiency
*Indian X-ray market is estimated at $ 30 Mn and expected to reach $ 45 Mn by 2011
KOLKATA, January 5, 2009: GE Healthcare, the US$17 billion healthcare business of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) today announced the launch of India's first affordable, true digital flat panel X-ray system, "Tejas DR-F". Tejas DR-F will usher in a new standard of safety and affordability to radiology practices in India.
X-ray is the primary and most widely used diagnostic imaging tool, yet it is the most under-developed imaging specialty in India.. Yet it is the most under developed imaging specialty in India. Every Indian citizen on an average will undergo a medical x-ray examination annually. It is imperative that high quality healthcare technology is available for each patient.
X-ray was invented in 1895 and it has taken over a century for the next revolution - digital flat panel based X-ray. However, X-ray systems currently available and used in India are low-powered, bulky and employ very old technology compromising on image quality and radiation dose. Both developed and emerging countries have phased out the out-dated 2-pulse x-ray technology, which is still extensively used in India. Indian healthcare professionals can look forward to true digital technology instead of looking for interim solutions that only look digital, and can potentially create more radiation hazard.
GE continues to focus on increasing affordability of high-end and higher quality diagnostic systems to Indian healthcare providers through local manufacturing. GE has rolled out a series of value products under the "In India, for India" program. The new GE Tejas DR-F is true digital flat panel based x-ray system and will be manufactured in Bangalore as part of their "In India, for India" program. The new Tejas DR-F will cost 40% lesser than imported digital x-ray systems and will reduce the radiation significantly.
Speaking about the growing healthcare market, Mr. V Raja, President and CEO, GE Healthcare South Asia, said, "Tejas DR-F is our new year's gift to support the safety of the large Indian population and technology deprived Indian healthcare professionals. Last year we launched the Tejas XR 6000, the only analog (film) X-ray upgradeable to digital manufactured in India. Today, we introduce Tejas DR-F, the only true digital X-ray system manufactured in India, with a truly Indian price-tag. Tejas DR-F has been designed keeping in mind the needs of the clinician, radiographer and patient. This is in line with our vision of 'Early Health' and we will continuously endeavour to bring in affordable solutions to fill in the technology gap in India".
Today, a healthcare provider has to deal with heavier workloads, less time per patient and increased demand for better patient care. Digital X-ray helps meet these challenges.
GE's Tejas DR-F provides high-resolution digital images for general radiography. Digital image acquisition supports fast and efficient exam procedures, eliminating time spent in handling film and cassettes, as well as reliability issues inherent in cassette tray systems.
Patients currently have to wait for several hours or even a day to get their diagnosis and report. If there is an error or quality issue, they have to go for a repeated exam -- which requires them to make a trip to the imaging center again. With digital x-ray, all of these difficulties are a thing of the past as the images can be seen instantly on the screen.
In conventional x-ray, several processes are involved in converting the x-ray signal that travels from the x-ray tube to the patient and to the cassette tray. Several additional processes are performed to make a hard copy output.
Digital X-ray is safer for patient, radiographer and radiologist
GE's proven digital technology, high image quality and automated tools simplify operation and difficult to do exams. Consistent and superior image quality helps reduce re-takes and instant image generation saves precious time. GE's patented digital detector is designed to accommodate high patient volume and provide highest image quality. GE's patented digital flat panel detector offers high x-ray absorption and patented low-noise electronics to take full advantage of the available signal and thus helps reduce dose, significantly.
All in all, the GE's digital X-ray technology allows the exam time(s) to be reduced by 10 times allowing more patient exams and reduces the dose by 30% compared to conventional X-ray. With Tejas DR-F the patient image is generated in less than 10 seconds.
Instant digital images also facilitate instant diagnosis and online image sharing. Operational expenses will potentially be reduced as film costs and developing rooms will become a thing of the past.
Mr Shireesh Sahai, General Manager, Primary Care said, "We have started the 'In India, for India' program with the approach to bring global quality technology to India at Indian prices. Tejas is the latest example of this initiative. . Though there are 60000 + X-ray systems operational in India, only few systems are truly digital and provide world-class diagnosis quality. It is a huge gap and an opportunity "
He added, "We have designed Tejas DR-F with GE's proprietary flat-panel digital detector with a unique non-tile formation. Unlike conventional 'multi-tile' detectors, this detector, devoid of 'blind spots', ensures precise, seamless image capture. Its portability makes for convenient digital workflow, high frequency digital imaging and a unique feature called Automatic Exposure Control (popularly known as AEC) keeps dosage low and thus ensures safety to the patient, radiographer and the doctor. "
Tejas has 270 built-in anatomical programs for anatomy-specific, low-dose X-rays. Tejas is safe, productive and versatile. One can also venture into advanced imaging territory with Tejas DR-F's tissue diagnosing capability."
Tejas DR-F has no ceiling suspension, it allows for faster installation without any masonry inputs and saves space. The under-table generator saves precious space and brings easy maintenance. Concealed cables bring enhanced safety and a clean appearance to the X-ray suite.
According to Mr Shireesh Sahai, "the state of the art manufacturing facility in Bangalore will continue to roll out cutting edge global technology locally. We are committed to developing and innovating to provide our customers with unique solutions backed by strong research capabilities."
GE revolutionized the global X-ray market by introducing the first digital X-ray in 1999. GE invested over US$500 million in developing its proprietary flat panel digital X-ray technology and the company has been granted more than 100 US patents. The technology is extended to multiple applications like cath-labs, mammography systems and a number of radiography X-ray applications. GE is one of the very few manufacturers in the world to manufacture digital detectors and over 10,000+ digital systems are in use globally. GE's flat panel detector provides reliability and an optimized image quality for all digital radiography systems.
About GE Healthcare:
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform, treat and monitor disease, so patients can live their lives to the fullest.
GE Healthcare's broad range of products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and other conditions earlier. Our vision for the future is to enable a new "early health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.
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