StarGuide™

Theranostics imaging at the speed of tomorrow
At a Glance

Optimizing Theranostics

Attaining the resolution/sensitivity balance crucial for imaging tracers

Short ¹⁷⁷Lu scans

Enables two peaks acquisition at 3 min/FOV¹ for reading and quantitation

Dynamic 3D SPECT/CT²

Transition from 2D ROI dynamic planar scans to 3D VOI dynamic SPECT scans​

Automated scan set-up

Auto motion and positioning to maximize proximity and image quality

Our most advanced SPECT/CT was made to help fulfill the promise of nuclear medicine’s Theranostics revolution. ​

Optimizing the highly-targeted, personalized oncological care now made possible by Theranostics (therapeutics & diagnostics) requires accurate quantitation. This is what drove the creation of StarGuide. StarGuide attains resolution and sensitivity levels so critical in monitoring doses from therapy. Its next-generation CZT detectors are capable of imaging the dual energy peaks of 177Lu essential to Theranostics. ​
CUTTING-EDGE CAPABILITIES

GE HealthCare’s most advanced SPECT/CT is a future-defining and future-proof breakthrough that will help expand the horizon of personalized treatment and transform Theranostics imaging innovation forever.​

StarGuide is pushing Theranostics forward with its fast dual-peak scanning and its exceptional lesion detectability. Much of what it does, including patient setup and image reconstruction, is automated. AI-enabled Xeleris™ V apps support its role in Theranostics.​
MULTIPEAK TRACER IMAGING

StarGuide is capable of imaging the dual 113 keV and 208 keV peaks of Lutetium-177 (¹⁷⁷Lu), widely used in Theranostics.⁴

177Lu is the isotope used for FDA-approved radiopharmaceutical treatment of PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). StarGuide’s dual peak imaging of 177Lu enables fast scans by utilizing both of its energy peaks for imaging. StarGuide delivers a remarkable 5.9% energy resolution on 99mTc scans and 5% energy resolution on 177Lu (208 keV peak) scans. This superb energy resolution enables differentiation between simultaneously acquired isotopes with smaller differences in peak energies.

Images courtesy of BAMF Health.
RAPID WHOLE-BODY SCANNING
The new generation multi-detector CZT-based StarGuide SPECT/CT system can deliver short 177Lu scans. StarGuide’s ring of Digital Focus Detectors enables two peaks acquisition at 3 minutes/FOV¹ for reading and quantitation. The StarGuide system acquired vertex to mid-thighs post-therapy SPECT/CT scans with 4 bed positions at 3 minutes/bed and a total scan time of 12 minutes.¹ Short scanning time like this is an important factor in helping improve patient comfort and enabling the patient to remain still during the entire exam.
AUTOMATED PATIENT SETUP

StarGuide’s short patient setup may help operators minimize their occupational radiation exposure due to time spent in close proximity to the patient. ​

StarGuide’s Swift Plan workflow, in concert with advanced automation robotics, intuitive bedside display, table ruler, and Optical Scout’s real-time mapping of the patient’s entire body habitus, enables adaptive, consistent and optimized camera setup and scanning. They combine to determine the bed and detector position for every portion of the scan. Not only does this allow short setup, but it allows for fast transitions between each detector and bed scanning position by enabling StarGuide’s fast robotics to move each detector out the minimal distance required for safe and rapid transition.
AUTOMATED RECONSTRUCTIONS

StarGuide automates SPECT/CT reconstructions on its SmartConsole, which is optimized to host our latest reconstruction algorithms and applications.​

Now for the first time, Q.Clear, the Block Sequential Regularized Expectation Maximization algorithm, previously only found on GE HealthCare PET/CT systems, has been engineered for SPECT/CT reconstruction. Q.Clear combines the BSREM algorithm with noise reduction regularization to reach full convergence without the effects of noise development seen with the OSEM algorithm. Q.Clear reconstruction represents a significant step forward for use in SPECT/CT imaging, including in the assessment of treatment response in addition to the diagnosis and staging of disease. This advancement provides outstanding quantitation accuracy.
AI-enabled Xeleris V apps​

StarGuide’s Xeleris V solution features analytic apps powered by Edison™ to help discover, diagnose and evaluate treatment with efficiency. ​

The Edison Digital Health Platform™ is GE HealthCare’s deep-learning intelligence engine. Edison-powered apps like Q.Thera AI, Q.Volumetrix AI, Q.Lung AI, and Q.Liver provide accurate, efficient and reproducible ways to automatically segment organs for quantitation and dosimetry calculations. Q.Thera AI, GE HealthCare’s Theranostics treatment dose monitoring solution, automatically quantifies and calculates the percentage of injected dose and absorbed dose per organ and lesion. Q.Volumetrix AI is an end-to-end solution for advanced segmentation and quantitation without impeding baseline and longitudinal studies workflow. Q.Lung AI demonstrated an auto lung segmentation success rate of 89%⁵ and an average of 57%⁶ reduction in clicks.​
Shape adaptive gantry​

StarGuide’s shape adaptive gantry–a ring of a dozen detectors–can help guide clinicians by narrowing the imaging field of view for great precision.​

The Digital Focus Detectors of the versatile shape adaptive gantry orbit the body as closely as possible, and from all necessary angles, to scan the target area–such as the spine, heart or brain–and not the air surrounding the patient. The result is improved volume sensitivity⁷ and SPECT resolution⁸. The improved SPECT resolution enables sharp images for better visualization of fine anatomical details, which can help physicians to detect diseases at an earlier stage. The innovative, NM 80 cm bore gantry’s ability to adjust the compact detectors’ proximity to the patient’s body leads to a generation of images with impressive detail not easily obtained on conventional SPECT/CT systems.​

StarGuide is the culmination of GE HealthCare’s pioneering work in cutting-edge CZT technology. Its inclusion of numerous other innovative technical features makes it a vital Theranostics SPECT/CT tool.​

With newfound digital medium-energy imaging capabilities at their disposal, clinicians are now able to apply the image quality, efficiency, and productivity benefits of StarGuide’s CZT and other technologies to their Theranostics imaging practices.

StarGuide’s 12 CZT Digital Focus Detectors attain exceptional energy and spatial resolution, striking the right balance of sensitivity and resolution.

Powered by advanced Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) technology, each detector’s 7.25 mm-thick semiconductor crystal is able to directly convert gamma ray photons into digital signals for accurate identification of the event location and energies emitted. Our crystal’s proprietary design makes the module capable of detecting a wide energy range and multiple isotope studies.

Learn more about CZT technology

Optical Scout performs a preliminary optical scan in seconds that creates an accurate topographical map of the patient.​

The real time patient body contour, performed during the motion into the bore, assures fast and safe transitions from one imaging position to the next. After processing the contour data, StarGuide’s detectors and table are automatically positioned in close patient proximity for each bed position before imaging.

SmartConsole is our latest network-capable, image processing sub-system that automates StarGuide reconstructions.​

In addition to automating volumetric reconstructions, SmartConsole, which is optimized to host our latest reconstruction algorithms and applications–including FAME (Functional Anatomical Mutual Enhancement) post-processing, simplifies complex hybrid imaging and quantitative protocols, and generates high-quality hybrid images so you can make informed decisions with quantifiable results. ​

Swift Plan workflow is designed to simplify clinician interactions with a scanner as fast and sophisticated as StarGuide.

Exam setup is quick and easy, requiring only two steps (three if CT is needed). By leveraging proven GE HealthCare innovations like its interactive table ruler and advanced automation robotics, combined with new innovations like intuitive digital bedside touch display and sliding straps, Swift Plan quickly becomes an extremely capable and user-friendly productivity enhancer. ​Clinicians will appreciate its predictably fast workflows.​

Dual-channel collimators, aligned to CZT pixels, enable higher​ resolution⁸.

Because of their longer septa and equal x and y axes, the tungsten collimators deliver 7.3 mm extrinsic spatial resolution at 10 cm⁹ for SPECT exam clarity.​

THOUGHTFUL DESIGN

StarGuide’s dual-axis table, convenient gantry display/controls, and many automated functions create an exceptional patient and operator experience.

The table, with carbon-fiber top, 500 lb. limit, and 22.2" lowest height, is designed to enable patient comfort. The dual-sided rulers and touch screens, quad-sided controls, and auto setup are designed to enable user productivity.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

StarGuide leads the way

Proven innovations

StarGuide incorporates GE HealthCare’s interactive table ruler and advanced robotics​

New innovations

StarGuide breaks new ground with its intuitive digital gantry touch display and sliding straps

Whole-body bone SPECT/CT ​

Examinations in only one whole-body SPECT acquisition, versus the typical practice of combining 2 or 3 planar and SPECT acquisitions when using traditional dual-head SPECT systems

Lister offline app​

Reframing of the acquired scan with post acquisition user selected parameters

Convenient quality control​

The line source QC rig mounts directly on to the table and stores in the room between uses

CT Smart Dose​

StarGuide leverages GE HealthCare’s innovative CT Smart Dose technologies, such as OptiDose, Q.AC, VISR and ASiR​

Reliable scheduling

Planar exams are replaced with the predictable scan times of 3D-only protocols

Inform your decisions with measurable results

Click here to learn more about Xeleris V, GE HealthCare’s virtual processing and review solution for nuclear medicine, including clinical applications such as these.

Q.Volumetrix AI

Advanced segmentation and quantitation without impeding baseline and longitudinal studies workflow​

Q.Lung AI

Automatic segmentation, processing, quantifying and reviewing of lung SPECT/CT ​

Q.Liver

Enhanced workflow for assessing liver anatomy, an automatic method for liver segmentation and a single platform to facilitate dose calculation​

Q.Thera AI

Segments lesion volumes and can automatically segment organs, as well as quantify and calculate the percent of injected and absorbed dose per organ and lesion

INSIGHT ARTICLES

Dive deeper into Theranostics and SPECT/CT imaging​

 

Fortifying the pathway to hope with Theranostics

 

Counting on hybrid SPECT/CT for elevated diagnostic value in radiology

 

Achieve the promise of Quantitative SPECT/CT in routine clinical practice​

 

Evolving the promise of precision medicine with Theranostics​

DISCLAIMERS
  1. Based on Stanford University study, as published in Song, H., Ferri, V., Duan, H. et al. SPECT at the speed of PET: a feasibility study of CZT-based whole-body SPECT/CT in the post 177Lu-DOTATATE and 177Lu-PSMA 617 setting. Results may vary since the scan time depends on the clinical task, patient size, anatomical location and sites’ clinical practice. A radiologist should determine the appropriate scan time for the particular clinical task.
  2. Acquisition only. The acquired dynamic data is stored in a list file. ​
  3. Statements made by GE HealthCare customers are based on their own opinions and experiences and on results that were achieved in their unique setting. Since there is no typical hospital and many variables exist, such as hospital size, case mix, etc., there can be no guarantee that other customers will achieve the same results.
  4. Radiopharmaceuticals may not be approved by ministers of health in all regions. ​
  5. As demonstrated in an evaluation consisting of 99 SPECT/CT cases and three physicians, where each case was segmented manually and using the AI-based algorithm and evaluated by one of the physicians. In 89 of the cases, the AI-based segmentation met the success criteria of (a) less than three manual edits, and (b) lobe volume and activity within a predefined threshold compared to manual segmentation.
  6. Compared to Q.Lung on Xeleris 4 DR. As demonstrated in bench test using five SPECT/CT cases. The bench test covered the workflow for pulmonary embolism diagnosis and lung function assessment. Results may vary.
  7. Improved volume sensitivity. Compared to NM/CT 870 DR using LEHR/LEHRS collimator and NM/CT 870 CZT using WEHR collimator.
  8. Compared to NM/CT 870 DR and NM/CT 870 CZT. StarGuide SPECT reconstruction with scatter used the system’s factory NEMA NU 1-2018 resolution protocol which uses the same method (BSREM with Clarity 3D) as its clinical bone protocol. NM/CT 870 DR and NM/CT 870 CZT SPECT reconstruction used Evolution for Bone (OSEM). NM/CT 870 DR used LEHR/LEHRS collimators and NM/CT 870 CZT used the WEHR collimator.
  9. Extrinsic spatial resolution measured from collimator face, per NEMA NU-1 2018. Average value of 12 detectors.

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