GE HealthCare has secured CE Mark for its MINItrace Magni cyclotron and expanded its PETtrace Solid Target Platform to support Copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu) production, marking two developments aimed at strengthening local radioisotope manufacturing and advancing molecular imaging research.

 

The developments target two key needs in positron emission tomography (PET): reliable access to radioisotopes and greater flexibility to explore emerging radiopharmaceuticals.

 

PET relies on radioactive tracers to produce images of biological processes inside the body. Because many of the radioisotopes used in these tracers have short half-lives, producing them close to where they are needed can help healthcare providers manage supply, scheduling and operational demands while reducing dependence on external production and transportation.

 

“The molecular imaging landscape is being reshaped by the expansion of theranostics, the introduction of new PET tracers, and demand across oncology, neurology and cardiology,” said Erez Levy, Vice President of Molecular Imaging at GE HealthCare. 

 

“As tracer portfolios broaden, healthcare providers need reliable access to radioisotopes and the flexibility to respond to changing clinical needs. That calls for a longer-term view of radiopharmaceutical production—one that supports established services while allowing institutions to prepare for new clinical and research applications.”

 

The CE Mark for MINItrace Magni marks a significant step for GE HealthCare’s compact, self-shielded cyclotron, designed to help healthcare providers establish or expand in-house radioisotope production.

 

The system is designed to produce four radioisotopes used in PET tracers: Fluorine-18 (¹⁸F), Carbon-11 (¹¹C), Oxygen-15 (¹⁵O) and Nitrogen-13 (¹³N).

 

Automation is central to the system’s design. An intuitive user interface and a three-click workflow are intended to simplify routine production tasks, while automated features such as auto-tuning prepare the cyclotron and targets, tune the beam and manage target irradiation.

 

GE HealthCare is also positioning MINItrace Magni as part of a wider radiopharmacy workflow rather than a standalone production system. When combined with its TRACERcenter Solutions, the cyclotron is designed to support local PET tracer production tailored to an institution’s clinical and operational requirements, including its plans for future expansion.

 

The approach reflects the growing importance of integrating radioisotope production with the wider processes needed to prepare PET tracers for clinical use.

 

In a parallel development, GE HealthCare is extending the capabilities of its PETtrace Solid Target Platform to include Copper-64 production, broadening the platform’s isotope portfolio beyond Gallium-68 and Zirconium-89.