GE hails X-ray breakthrough

GE Medical Systems has claimed a major breakthrough that will speed up the identification of health problems and diseases. The health specialists, part of General Electric, said it has developed a way of combining X-rays and radioactive tracers injected into the body.

Known as functional anatomic mapping, the technique merges two disciplines: nuclear imaging - which records the effects of a drug entering a patient's bloodstream - and digital X-rays, which provide anatomical images.

GE Medical Systems said the technology will be ready for commercial use next year.