GE LightSpeed VCT XT
Family: LightSpeed · Modality: CT
Variant siblings: VCT Select · VCT (base)
Top-tier configuration of the 64-slice LightSpeed VCT platform. Combines the V-Res 40 mm detector, 100 kW Performix Pro VCT 100 tube (8.0 MHU heat capacity), SnapShot Pulse cardiac gating, Volume Shuttle perfusion, and licensed ASiR iterative reconstruction into a single bundled tier. The dominant 64-slice CT in the global refurbished install base; the benchmark most other legacy 64-slice systems are compared against.
What's bundled at XT vs Select / base
- V-Res 40 mm detector — 40 mm Z-axis active coverage per rotation, better Z-axis uniformity than the pre-V-Res detector shipped on Select and base.
- ASiR — licensed. Enables low-dose protocols that pre-iterative reconstruction VCT systems can't run.
- Volume Shuttle — cone-beam-style dynamic perfusion over the 40 mm detector. Enables whole-brain and whole-organ dynamic perfusion protocols that require back-and-forth table motion.
- SnapShot Pulse — prospective cardiac gating for coronary CTA.
- 0.35 s minimum rotation (vs 0.4 s on Select, 0.5 s on base).
- Host software — ships with 5.x, most active units have been upgraded through 6.x revisions.
Specs
- 64 slices · 70 cm gantry aperture
- V-Res 40 mm detector
- Performix Pro VCT 100 tube · 8.0 MHU heat capacity · 1608 kHU/min cooling
- 100 kW high-frequency generator · up to 140 kVp / 800 mA
- ASiR iterative reconstruction (licensed)
- SnapShot Pulse cardiac gating + Volume Shuttle perfusion
- Host software 5.x / 6.x generation
Clinical positioning
- Cardiac — SnapShot Pulse prospective-gated coronary CTA at 64-slice coverage. Limited compared to dual-source or wide-coverage Revolution platforms for high-heart-rate patients.
- Body / oncology — routine abdomen-pelvis with ASiR dose reduction.
- Neuro — stroke protocols including perfusion via Volume Shuttle.
- Trauma — fast whole-body acquisition at 40 mm coverage per rotation.
- Interventional adjunct — biopsy / drainage with the broad 70 cm gantry.
Successor and upgrade path
Revolution-generation platforms (Revolution HD, Revolution Apex) replaced VCT XT in new orders. VCT XT chassis are not field-upgradable to Revolution; replacement is the standard path. The VCT XT remains in service at thousands of sites as its large parts ecosystem and well-understood service model continue to favor keeping the system running.
Parts
- Performix Pro VCT 100 Tube (shared across VCT family)
- VDAS (shared)
- V-Res 40 mm Detector Module (XT only)
- Slip Ring (shared)
- HV Generator (shared)
- Gantry Drive (shared)
Field guide
Tube discipline (warm-ups, duty cycle), DAS faults, chiller management, slip-ring wear patterns — see field-guide/ge-healthcare-lightspeed-vct.
Related
- LightSpeed VCT Select (mid-market sibling)
- LightSpeed VCT (base) (original 2004 configuration)
- Revolution HD (successor-class)
- Discovery PET/CT 690 (shares VCT CT platform)
- Siemens SOMATOM Definition AS (competitor era)
- Philips Brilliance 64 (competitor era)
- Canon Aquilion Prime (competitor era)
- LightSpeed family