Originally published December 18 2005
GE's new bone mineral density system is a major leap in osteoporosis diagnosis
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Lunar iDXA, a new bone mineral density system introduced by GE at the meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago, will allow doctors to diagnose osteoporosis with greater accuracy and earlier in the disease's development.
Launched at the 91st annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago, GE's new iDXA is designed to help clinicians diagnose osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and increased risk of fracture, more accurately and earlier in the disease process.
The iDXA also enables clinicians to simultaneously assess body composition and ascertain fat distribution.
In addition, GE's iDXA is capable of measuring patients up to 400 lbs., which will help clinicians assess and diagnose larger patients, including professional athletes who traditionally have not been able to receive a comprehensive fitness diagnosis due to their size.
"The new iDXA provides both excellent image quality and precise bone density measurements to help clinicians diagnose osteoporosis," said Dr. Ken Faulkner, chief scientist for GE Healthcare's Lunar business.
Bone mineral density technology, usually referred to as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), is a rapid, precise, and accurate method for bone density assessment and the measurement of regional and total body composition in both clinical and research settings.
GE's iDXA will enable clinicians to detect changes in patients' bone density faster than ever before by offering extremely precise measurement of bone, allowing them to better assess bone mineral density, bone structure and ultimately bone strength, according to Faulkner.
I am extremely optimistic that this better image quality will improve the confidence with which we can identify vertebral fractures using DXA," said Dr. Neil Binkley, University of Wisconsin Osteoporosis Center in Madison, Wisc.
According to a 2004 U.S. Surgeon General's report on the nation's bone health, 10 million Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, while another 34 million are at risk for developing the disease.
GE is the industry leader in bone assessment technologies and has steadily grown its Lunar product line by continuing to provide the industry's most advanced technologies and services, enabling significant growth in 2004.
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