Paris – GE Healthcare, the $17 billion medical technology division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) today introduced Innova Vision Technology for structural heart, a new software application that effectively fuses real-time 2D X-ray images and 3D cardiac models from multiple modalities such as X-ray, Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR), and incorporates image stabilization features to reduce image motion that occurs with patient movement or breathing. The application was introduced at the EuroPCR congress in Paris, France, May 25–28, 2010.

As cardiologists perform more complex procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve implantations, the 3D anatomy of the heart is essential to plan or guide these procedures. The 3D anatomy of the aortic root can be obtained either from cardiac CT or from Innova 3D Cardiac rotational angiography right within the cath lab. Multimodality in-room 3D capabilities enable the navigation of 3D and CT volumes at tableside using a dedicated in-room 3D mouse. It also enables the bidirectional synchronization between the 3D/CT/MR volume and the Innova gantry to choose optimal working views.

Built upon Innova’s exceptional 3D imaging platform and the Advantage Workstation® VolumeShare™ multimodality, visualization and navigation workstation, Innova Vision Technology for structural heart provides 3D/CT/MR image overlay on fluoroscopy. It also delivers gated image stabilization, reducing image artifact that can occur with patient movement, cardiac motion or breathing. During procedures, the gated image stabilization improves visualization for better guidance of aortic valve deployment and other devices during complex structural heart interventions.

GE’s dedicated Innova Vision Technology for structural heart provides uncompromised registration performance of the 3D overlay on the 2D fluoroscopy for structural heart procedures. The application is enhanced by image stabilization features such as ECG gated display and motion tracking. These tools help reduce image motion that occurs with patient movement or breathing. It is available on GE’s Innova 2100IQ cardiovascular X-ray system along with the complete family of single-plane Innova systems from GE Healthcare.

“Innova Vision Technology for structural heart is defining the state-of-the-art in 3D guidance and navigation,” said Hooman Hakami, President & CEO for Interventional at GE Healthcare. “Our unique technology builds on one of our Innova product lines core strengths, namely excellent image quality, and combines it with the registration of the 3D overlay on 2D fluoroscopy. Our uncompromised new registration algorithm allows for cardiac and respiratory motion compensation, which allows the cardiologists to navigate with confidence during the most complex structural heart procedures.”