GE HealthCare has unveiled Photonova Spectra, a photon counting computed tomography system that harnesses GE HealthCare’s proprietary Deep Silicon detector technology to deliver 8-bin energy resolution and ultra-high-definition imaging capabilities across multiple clinical specialties.
Particle physics meets clinical imaging
The technology represents a fundamental shift in CT detection methodology. Rather than converting X-rays into light before measurement, photon counting CT directly detects individual X-ray photons and measures their energy. This direct detection approach enables significantly higher spectral and spatial resolution whilst improving tissue characterisation, providing clinicians with richer diagnostic information from each scan.
“Photon counting CT is a fundamentally different approach to imaging. It can be thought of as particle physics in action,” said Giuseppe Toia, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Associate Section Chief of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention and Programme Director of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention Fellowship with the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Being involved in developing and testing the Deep Silicon detector has allowed us to assess how the technology can be applied to address common issues such as improving spatial resolution and attaining accurate CT numbers.”
Silicon’s semiconductor properties enable precision energy measurement
The Deep Silicon detector technology exploits silicon’s inherent properties as a high-performing semiconductor material. Its purity and structural consistency enable precise measurement of photon energy when X-ray photons interact with the detector material, delivering high levels of energy resolution critical for advanced image reconstruction.
The detector design reduces signal overload whilst improving energy separation, enabling the system to clearly distinguish between different materials including iodine, calcium and fat with notable precision. This material differentiation capability supports enhanced lesion characterisation and tissue analysis across clinical applications.
The system’s wide detector coverage combines with a rapid 0.23-second rotation speed to support fast acquisition and motion-free imaging, even in challenging patient scenarios where movement can compromise image quality.
Universal scanning protocol streamlines workflow
Photonova Spectra [1] introduces an Effortless Workflow approach with universal full fidelity scanning, enabling a single-scan protocol to replace multiple exam-specific sequences. The system provides on-demand spectral imaging for every scan, allowing clinicians to retrospectively access spectral data without requiring additional acquisitions or protocol planning.
This universal scanning approach aims to reduce protocol complexity whilst maintaining diagnostic confidence across diverse examination types. The CT ONE operator environment incorporates automated features including Auto Positioning to standardise image acquisition across different operators and clinical settings.
Processing 50-fold data increases with accelerated computing
The photon counting architecture generates substantially more data than conventional CT systems – up to 50 times the volume compared to traditional systems.[2] To process these expanded datasets, GE HealthCare has integrated NVIDIA’s accelerated computing technology, enabling advanced reconstruction techniques that convert raw photon data into clinically actionable images.
“Accelerated computing and AI are the essential engines driving the transformation of medical imaging today, moving us from passive data capture to active, intelligent clinical workflows,” said Kimberly Powell, Vice President of Healthcare at NVIDIA. “By working on the technology’s development and pursuing opportunities to pair GE HealthCare’s
Deep Silicon architecture with NVIDIA’s Blackwell platform in the future, we aim to unlock the full potential of spectral imaging – turning massive volumes of data into actionable insights.”
The computational infrastructure supports automated reconstruction of ultra-high-resolution spectral images on demand, eliminating the need for technologists to predict which spectral reconstructions might be clinically useful during scan acquisition.
Multi-specialty clinical capabilities
The system’s design targets specific clinical challenges across medical specialties. In neurology, the technology enables visualisation of tiny anatomical structures including the inner ear whilst simultaneously differentiating between the brain’s grey and white matter. For oncology applications, the Deep Silicon detectors support precise lesion quantification, with iodine mapping capabilities designed to distinguish oncological findings and monitor treatment response.
Musculoskeletal imaging benefits from enhanced visualisation of small fractures and bone marrow oedema, supporting detailed orthopaedic assessments. In thoracic imaging, the ultra-high-definition capabilities reveal fine anatomical details with exceptional clarity. Cardiac applications leverage one-second acquisition times for rapid scanning, enabling in-stent lumen assessment, plaque characterisation and myocardial tissue evaluation.
Research applications
Beyond immediate clinical applications, the photon counting architecture and Deep Silicon detector design open research possibilities in quantitative imaging, tissue characterisation and spectral biomarker discovery. Researchers may explore clinical applications and imaging protocols that were previously constrained by conventional CT technology limitations.
“Engineered with purpose to tackle some of healthcare’s most complex challenges – Photonova Spectra represents the next generation of CT innovation,” said Roland Rott, President and CEO, Imaging, GE HealthCare. “As pioneers in AI and medical devices, we have harnessed advanced algorithms to materially enable this product – combining photon counting CT with our proprietary Deep Silicon detector.”
The technology addresses increasing patient volumes and diagnostic complexity in contemporary healthcare, where clinicians require comprehensive diagnostic information for confident decision-making whilst managing workflow efficiency.
- For more information, visit:
https://research.gehealthcare.com/in-the-device/photon-counting-ct-the-deep-silicon-revolution/
References:
[1] Photonova Spectra is 510(k)-pending with the U.S. FDA. Not CE Marked.
Not available for sale in the United States, Europe, Canada, or any other region.
[2] When compared to Revolution Apex Elite.
