GE HealthCare Unveils Revolution Vibe CT Scanner to Meet Rising Cardiac Imaging Demand

To address the growing need for cardiac computed tomography (CT), GE HealthCare introduced its newest scanner—the Revolution Vibe—during ACC.25, the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting. Traditionally, the high image quality needed for coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has required top-tier, costly scanners. The Revolution Vibe, however, was designed to provide advanced imaging performance at a more affordable price point, making it suitable for both outpatient centers and larger hospital systems.

“We were seeing higher demand, and the higher reimbursement is driving more and more of these procedures from an economics perspective into the outpatient environment. So we needed to come up with a scanner that allowed you to do really high-end cardiac work in an outpatient environment ... but with the capability that you see at the flagship hospital,” said Ty Bode, senior director of strategy at GE HealthCare, in a video interview at ACC.25.

Cardiac CT was already gaining momentum before 2020, but interest surged after the 2021 ACC/AHA chest pain guidelines gave CT a class 1A recommendation. The shift was further accelerated by updated reimbursement policies, most notably Medicare's decision to double outpatient scan payments beginning in January 2025.

These changes prompted many institutions to establish or expand cardiac CT services, sparking a wave of new scanner releases by imaging companies in recent years.

Bode explained that the Revolution Vibe can perform an axial scan over a 16-centimeter range with a 0.23-second rotation time—the fastest in the market. This enables comprehensive heart imaging in a single beat and can also be leveraged for other full-body scans.

“You end up scanning with 4 centimeters of collation, or 128 slices, and that allows you to do basic runoffs, any sort of abdomen work, neuro work, and you get really high-end cardiac work,” he said.

Flagship Features and AI-Powered CCTA Workflow

The Revolution Vibe integrates many key capabilities from GE HealthCare’s flagship CT models. With 16 cm anatomical coverage and ultra-fast rotation, it captures the heart in a single beat. One-beat imaging technology ensures reliable scan quality across patient types, reducing training complexity and standardizing outcomes.

Bode noted that many community hospitals lack either high-end scanners or experienced technologists needed for cardiac CT. Revolution Vibe targets this underserved segment, incorporating workflow-enhancing features to ease staffing pressures, particularly in rural settings.

“We also have our latest in AI-based workflows built into the system,” Bode said. “The goal is to be consistent across various technologists without creating more work for the human. We want to augment what all the humans are already doing within the workflow and make it easier for techs, rads, cardiologists across the board.”

These AI features include automatic protocol selection based on the patient's prescription, intelligent scan range detection, parameter adjustments, and image optimization. Some post-processing and data outputs are also automated and delivered to reading stations.

The system also includes technology to handle patients with fast or irregular heart rhythms, traditionally managed using beta blockers. GE’s approach combines smart software and hardware to reduce dependency on medication, featuring auto-gating that aligns scan timing with cardiac rhythm in real time.

Snapshot Freeze 2 software improves motion correction throughout the entire heart, not just the coronary arteries. High-definition imaging enhances visualization in calcified vessels and stents, supporting better diagnostic clarity.

Positioned for the Future of Preventive Cardiac CT

With increasing interest in using CCTA for proactive heart health screening and risk stratification, GE HealthCare expects ongoing growth in its use beyond acute chest pain evaluations.

“We've already seen multiple health systems use coronary CTA in emergency room environments as a way to help manage chest pain patients coming in and triage them more effectively for who goes to the cath lab and to better manage inpatient admissions,” Bode said.

Experts in CCTA anticipate that AI-based tools—like noninvasive fractional flow reserve CT (FFR-CT) and coronary soft plaque analysis—will become standard for evaluating chest pain and conducting preventive assessments. These technologies require consistently high-quality imaging, which the Revolution Vibe is designed to deliver as adoption continues to grow.