In France, GE Healthcare Announces the First Global Installation of Its Discovery IGS 730 System for Hybrid Operating Rooms

GE Healthcare announces the first global installation in France of the Discovery IGS 730 system for hybrid Operating Rooms and imaging departments. It will allow performing complex minimally-invasive endovascular and percutaneous procedures on inoperable patients suffering from cardiovascular pathologies such as ruptured aorta aneurysms, fainting spells or cerebrovascular accidents. "The Discovery IGS 730 is a true innovation allowing us to conduct complex minimally invasive hybrid procedures in a secure setting. With this technology we are treating "high risk” patients unfit for open surgery. In a year, this technology will allow us to perform 500 complex aortic repairs in such patients. The majority of patients will have a reduced hospital stay and a quick return to normal activity. In addition, in terms of mobility/patient access and the ergonomics of the operating room, this is a huge step forward”, said Prof. Haulon, Head of Vascular Surgery Department, University Hospital of Lille, France.

World's first installation and clinical use of GE Healthcare’s Discovery IGS 730 at the Lille University Hospital in France.

A major innovation developed and produced in France: Discovery IGS 730

The hybrid operating room allows both open surgery and catheter-based imaging therapies to take place in the same operating room. The hybrid OR enables multiple physicians (surgeons, Interventionalist, nurses, anaesthesiologists, and technicians) to perform a new spectrum of minimally invasive therapies with the goal of ultimately enabling better patient care. These complex minimally-invasive endovascular and percutaneous procedures will allow discharging patients much faster (5 days in comparison to an average of 10 days) and reduce patient rehabilitation.

"In designing the Discovery IGS 730, it was always our goal to provide the latest in interventional efficiency – with high precision imaging capability and exceptional in-room mobility. This solution aims to accommodate a wide range of minimally invasive and surgical procedures. Due to the technological innovation and the advanced application portfolio available, we hope it will allow our customers to explore and discover new ways within both the Interventional and the Operating Room.” says Chantal Le Chat, General Manager, Premium Angiography, GE Healthcare, Detection & Guidance Solutions.

The Discovery IGS 730 is a laser-guided, mobile gantry, a first-of-its kind in interventional imaging. The system is neither floor nor ceiling mounted and enables full patient access, creating an interventional environment without boundaries. It has the mobility of a C-arm with the power and image quality of a fixed system, allowing multiple parking possibilities, while helping maintain sterility for a flexible and secure OR environment. It is intended for oncology (hepatic and bone tumors), neurology (aneurysms and brain tumors) as well as cardiovascular patients (stent appositions). Discovery IGS 730 is the only x-ray angiographic medical imaging system with such mobility in the world.

Discovery IGS 730, the outcome of a 32 million Euros investment in France

In total, 12 international patents have been registered for this ground-breaking technological innovation. Discovery IGS 730 has been developed within the IRIMI project, a public-private partnership that involved several French laboratories and partially funded by the French government (IRIMI project).

"With the installation of the Discovery IGS 730 in France, our R&D factory of Buc (Parisian Region) has become the birthplace of a ground-breaking innovation in worldwide surgery. With this, our 420 France-based researchers have proven to be able to find technological innovations that allow new treatments, reduce risks for the patients and provide solutions for health professionals” declared Robert Sigal, CEO, GE Healthcare France.

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 increasing access and improving quality and affordability around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are 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. For our latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com.

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