What You Should Know:
– GE Healthcare acquires Swedish startup Sensors AB, specializing in photon counting detectors for an undisclosed amount.
– The acquisition underscores the company’s continued investment and dedication in photon-counting CT technology (PCCT)
– PCCT is anticipated to further expand the clinical capabilities of traditional CT technology
GE Healthcare today announced its acquisition of Prismatic Sensors AB, a Swedish-based startup specializing in photon counting detectors, signifying the company’s continued investment in photon counting CT technology. This technology has the potential to establish a new standard of care in oncology, cardiology, neurology, and many other clinical CT applications.
The Power of Photon Counting Technology
Photon counting technology enables detection of single x-rays at very high rates. In photon counting all electronic noise can be eliminated from a minimum threshold level. All noise will be below this threshold and discarded x-ray signals will be above the threshold and are retained, without any loss. By eliminating noise the radiation dose can be reduced and the image quality increased. This is particularly important for medical application where the x-ray dose needs to be kept to a minimum, such as imaging of small children.
Acquisition Expands GE’s Clinical Capabilities of Traditional CT
Founded in 2012 as a spin-off from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, PCCT has the promise to further expand the clinical capabilities of traditional CT, including the visualization of minute details of organ structures, improved tissue characterization, more accurate material density measurement (or quantification) and lower radiation dose. Prismatic Sensors has overcome many challenges working with silicon and patented a novel way to position the silicon sensors “edge on” so the detector is deep enough to absorb very high energy photons and fast enough to count hundreds of millions of CT photons per second.
“We believe this technology has the potential to be a substantial step forward for CT imaging to establish a new standard of care and eventually improve clinical outcomes for millions of patients worldwide,” said Kieran Murphy, President & CEO, GE Healthcare. “From the first x-ray machines to the first photon counting CT prototype, GE Healthcare is committed to pioneering next generation technologies to achieve precision health and improve lives. We are excited about this cutting-edge approach with Deep Silicon and its clinical potential.”
GE Healthcare expects to close the Prismatic Sensors acquisition by January 2021, after holding a minority position in the company since 2017. GE Healthcare and Prismatic Sensors will work together to deliver a clinical system in the near future. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
