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| GE Healthcare Delivers More Than 2,000 OEC Mobile C-Arm Fluoroscopic Imaging Systems
Total number is nearly twice the volume delivered in the same amount of time in prior 30-year history; includes 13 configurations across general surgical, vascular and orthopedic applications | |||
| 29 Nov 2009
, Chicago
: GE Healthcare, a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced today that it has shipped more than 2,300 units of the OEC® 9900 Elite C-arm mobile fluoroscopic imaging systems in the U.S. over the past 18-month period. According to the business unit, the shipment dates extend from June 1, 2008 through October 3, 2009. Normal shipments during the same time period generally range from 1500 to 1700 units. A C-arm uses fluoroscopic x-rays to produce a 'live' image feed displayed on monitors during a wide range of surgical procedures. For more than three decades, GE Healthcare has been a leader in mobile C-arm surgical imaging with 7 out of 10 surgeons choosing GE systems to help them visualize internal body structures during surgery. Customers Waited Nearly three years ago, the future of GE’s Surgery business unit was in jeopardy as a consent decree with the FDA prohibited the business from manufacturing or distributing OEC surgical equipment to customers until quality system processes were improved to meet FDA standards. Remarkably, hundreds of OEC C-arm customers who wanted an OEC C-arm made the decision to wait. When the Surgery business unit resumed shipping in May 2008, more than 300 systems were delivered in the first 10 days. “Some customers placed orders for an OEC system prior to our stoppage, and many preferred to wait. Some waited more than two years for an OEC system rather than purchase one from an alternative vendor,” said Pete McCabe, President of GE Healthcare Surgery. “Our customers expect more and know that GE can fulfill their specific imaging needs.” Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, New Hampshire purchased an OEC 9900 Elite in 2006, before shipping stopped. As the Director of Radiology for this 25-bed critical access hospital, Marcy Rushford (BS, RDMS, RTRM) and her staff desperately needed a new C-arm and had to make a tough decision. “We had a lot of faith in the OEC products and were willing to wait – which was really hard especially towards the end,” says Rushford. “But now I’m so glad that we did. The technologists love it and seem to have a lot more confidence especially in difficult cases. And the surgeons continue to comment on the phenomenal images they are getting from the OEC 9900 Elite.” Surgical Solutions GE’s OEC family of products provide superb fluoroscopic X-ray images in general, orthopedic, cardiac, vascular and urologic surgical procedures. The time, resources and expertise invested have elevated the quality and reliability of the OEC products, with the 9900 Elite’s uptime during testing increased to 98 percent. A dedicated group of 200 service engineers and 60 clinical application specialists are committed to ensuring that every OEC system’s performance is maximized through world-class service and customer-recommended service training and support programs. The GE Healthcare Image Intensifier (II) technology helps healthcare professionals capture clear, accurate surgical images in both large and small patients during most surgical procedures. OEC systems’ II technology offers a Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) rating - the rating used to measure image quality - consistently at 65 percent, even in dense anatomy cases. McCabe is proud of OEC’s progress and is encouraged by the ability of the business to deliver systems to so many customers during tough economic times. “Our customers know that the quality fluoroscopic mobile imaging provided by GE can positively impact patient outcomes, while reliability and support can impact productivity and maximize their investment.” He adds that the business is expanding, a development made possible by proven customer loyalty and the backing of GE and GE Healthcare. “We have a plan for growth, both in the U.S. and globally, that will help ensure that more facilities have access to the high quality imaging they need to be able to provide the best patient care,” said McCabe. About GE Healthcare: GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems. Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. 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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