GE PACS Strategy and Development

Abstract

General Electric Medical Systems invested in PACS as early as 1983 in the worldwide Research and Development Centers — in the USA (MILWAUKEE), Europe (BUC-FRANCE, GE-CGR Company previously owned by THOMSON), and at the YMS Headquarters of Tokyo, Japan.

The work started with 1K workstation, network and standard interface. A first generation of systems were installed in 1987. Clinical feedback showed the necessity of 2K display for diagnostic display, and better integration at users level. Having defined the Development and Marketing strategy of the three poles, GEMS is now ready to launch the ID-System concept, handling Diagnostic Workstations (2–4 screens, 2048×1536) fully integrated in PACS environment with archiving and communication access, including HIS/RIM integration.

GE PACS R and D effort is committed on both product integration (standard ACR-NEMA, standard Modalities CPU, peripherals, user interface) and Multimodality workstation application such as CT/MR 3D visualisation, and Digital X-Ray diagnostic/therapy applications such as Cardiac and Angiography workstations.