GE Healthcare Launches First-Ever Mammography System that Allows Patients to Control their Compression by Remote Control
WAUKESHA, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GE Healthcare announced today FDA 510(k) clearance of an industry-first,
patient-assisted mammography device that literally puts women in control
of their mammograms. Senographe Pristina Dueta is an innovative remote
control that allows women to manage their own compression during the
exam performed on the company’s new mammography system, Senographe
Pristina*.
“Mammograms can be uncomfortable or even painful,” said Agnes Berzsenyi,
President and CEO of GE Healthcare Women’s Health. “Engineered by a team
of women for women, GE Healthcare has transformed mammography with the
creation of patient-assisted compression to decrease pain associated
with the exam, improve patient experience and increase outcomes for
breast cancer screening which we know saves lives.”
In traditional mammography, the technologist performing the exam
compresses the patient’s breast, often causing discomfort.
Patient-assisted compression allows women to control the application of
compression to minimize the perceived pain and discomfort often
associated with a mammogram. After the breast is properly positioned by
the technologist, the patient can use a handheld wireless remote control
to command Senographe Pristina to adjust the compression paddle based on
the patient’s comfort level.
“This is a new age in breast imaging,” said Dr. Kathy Schilling, Medical
Director of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Christine E. Lynn Women’s
Health & Wellness Center and the radiologist who conducted a clinical
review of the new tool. “Patients who used the remote control said the
exam was more comfortable and they were visibly more relaxed. Any breast
radiologist knows that when patients are relaxed, we are able to get
better images and better images lead to a more confident diagnosis. My
hope is that increasing comfort during the exam and giving patients the
option of working with the technologist to set their own compression
will increase compliance, enable early detection and improve outcomes.”
Patient-assisted compression is the newest comfort feature available on
Senographe Pristina, a totally redesigned mammography system that has
replaced traditional design with rounded edges and a thinner image
detector to create a more pleasant experience for women as well as
armrests that position women to relax rather than tense up during the
compression and image acquisition process.
“No woman should miss out on the potentially life-saving benefits of
regular mammograms out of fear or anxiety of discomfort,” Berzsenyi
said. “Senographe Pristina was designed with empathy. It humanizes the
mammography experience by increasing comfort and reducing patient
anxiety. The system’s potential to help increase the number of annual
screening exams is a critical advancement in women’s healthcare.”
* Senographe Pristina is a trademark of General Electric Company
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and
services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and
more affordable healthcare around the world. GE Healthcare (NYSE: GE)
works on things that matter – great people and technologies taking on
tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient
monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical
manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions GE
Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their
patients. http://www.gehealthcare.com.
Contacts
GE Healthcare
Alexandra Scoptur
alexandra.scoptur@ge.com
414-217-7914
