HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- From innovative new product solutions to clever additions to existing technology, Siemens Medical Solutions (www.usa.siemens.com/medical) is propelling the field of molecular medicine to new heights. Working across clinical areas, including oncology, neurology and cardiology, Siemens will be presenting its latest molecular imaging technologies at the 93rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) from Nov. 25 to 30 in Chicago (Booth #7713, Hall B).
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“We are committed to introducing technologies that not only open up new doors in how disease and conditions are imaged, but also to refining those images to provide the clearest and most uniform presentation for those interpreting them,” said Michael Reitermann, president, Molecular Imaging Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. “With an innovation like HD*PET, Siemens Medical Solutions is giving physicians increased image clarity that we couple with our TrueV technology for one of the largest field of the views in the industry. The end result is a solution that improves workflow and diagnostic confidence.”
Siemens is redefining the quality of molecular imaging with the introduction of high-definition positron emission tomography. HD*PET is the world’s first and only high-definition PET technology to offer consistently sharper and clearly defined images across the entire field of view. The clarity achieved by HD*PET is the result of a unique and proprietary technology that optimizes the elements of image uniformity, resolution and contrast - that together change the whole picture.
Historically with PET imaging, intrinsic image quality has been known to degrade with increasing distance from the center of the detector. HD*PET eliminates this effect, thus providing increased diagnostic confidence to more accurately resolve peripheral lesions. This, in turn, could potentially improve diagnosis and staging of disease and hence clinical outcomes. The improved 2-mm resolution enables physicians to clearly visualize the smallest of lesions from the center to the edges of the field of view.
Siemens Hybrid Imaging Solutions
Siemens has also newly redesigned the mobile Biograph(TM) 6 TruePoint(TM) PET*CT system. The redesigned system incorporates hardware improvements such as a shorter gantry to reclaim critical space in the scan room, a special cantilevered patient handling system with automatic lock-down and a completely integrated closed-loop cooling system with no external chilling requirement. The new mobile systems also boast significant workflow improvements to facilitate remote operation and support for multiple site connectivity.
With the introduction of another hybrid imaging technology, the TruePoint SPECT*CT, clinicians can perform three different studies - single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), diagnostic multislice-CT, and SPECT*CT - on one compact, integrated system. Siemens has recently introduced the Symbia(R) T16 TruePoint SPECT*CT configuration, which combines the power of SPECT imaging with the precision of a 16-slice CT. Siemens Medical Solutions Molecular Imaging has seen worldwide demand for these solutions growing and these systems have a range of applications in oncology and cardiology. With the 16-slice configuration, users benefit from better temporal resolution in cardiology studies as well as improved image resolution to boost diagnostic confidence.
Symbia E
The Symbia E is the newest addition to the Symbia family of SPECT and SPECT*CT imaging systems. It provides users with a high-quality SPECT imager that can lead to improved clinical confidence, reliability and versatility.
“Siemens continually evaluates its product offerings to ensure that we help our global customers deliver the best outcomes while addressing their financial concerns,” said Reitermann. “The Symbia E is primed to be the newest general imaging SPECT and cardiac SPECT workhorse for cost-conscious customers who need a serious return on their investment.”
Based on state-of-the-art Symbia SPECT*CT technology and award-winning design, Symbia E leverages the strength of the industry’s leading gamma camera, the e.cam. There are more than 4,000 e.cams installed in more than 120 countries, proving that the system is an industry icon. Siemens has improved upon the e.cam system structure and the Symbia E boasts features that will allow healthcare providers to work with increased confidence, which will lead to an accelerated workflow. The system is also versatile and it can be upgraded as a facility’s workload grows.
Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmaceutical Preparation
Siemens’ preclinical multimodality imaging solutions offer a versatile and upgradeable platform as well as a comprehensive suite of analysis applications. Siemens’ newest preclinical solution, Inveon(TM), is a modular concept that offers complete flexibility, enabling PET, SPECT, and CT data acquisition, and provides the industry’s highest PET resolution and sensitivity. Inveon’s suite of research tools can help facilitate basic research, as well as the drug development process, empowering researchers to identify specific biological processes, monitor the efficacy of compounds, and measure the effects of disease progression over time.
Siemens also offers products for the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals. The Explora(R) family of radiochemistry modules offers a comprehensive line of products for efficient preparation of radiolabeled PET compounds. On a larger scale, the Eclipse family of PET cyclotrons is Siemens’ solution for radioisotope production of 18-fluoride-based radiotracers, as well as production N-13, 0-15 and C-11 isotopes.
Tying it all together, Siemens Molecular Imaging (MI) University, a fundamental part of MI LifeNet - Siemens’ customer care initiative - provides a substantive training resource for Siemens’ customers. Today’s molecular imaging professionals require continuous education, training and the ability to share results. Designed to be used by the interpreting physician, referring physician and technologist, MI University demonstrates the benefits of hybrid PET*CT and SPECT*CT systems, including when and how hybrid imaging influences patient management, through access to valuable clinical data and detailed case studies; video lectures; product information; and a tool for information exchange among peers.
Availability of FLT to NCI Research Sites
Siemens also recently announced that the National Cancer Institute has filed a cross-reference letter to a Type II Drug Master File that Siemens submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its investigational 3’Deoxy-3'[18F] Fluorothymidine (F-18 FLT) imaging biomarker. The cross reference allows F-18 FLT to be produced and used by any principle investigator in an NCI multi-center clinical trial. In addition, the imaging biomarker will be available to independent investigators if they receive NCI approval. F-18 FLT is produced by PETNET Solutions or Molecular Imaging Biomarker Research, both subsidiary companies of Siemens Medical Solutions, Molecular Imaging. The imaging biomarker has been used in studies monitoring the proliferative activity of cancer cells and it is currently being used in Phase-I clinical trials at several research sites.
About Siemens Medical Solutions
Siemens Medical Solutions is one of the world’s largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Medical Solutions will be the first fully integrated diagnostics company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services. The company delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care - from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Siemens Medical Solutions employs more than 48,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries. According to U.S. GAAP, in the fiscal year 2007 (Sept. 30), Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of Euro 9.85 billion, orders of Euro 10.27 billion, and group profit of Euro 1.32 billion (preliminary figures, unaudited). Further information can be found by visiting http://www.siemens.com/medical.
CONTACT: Mark Palacio, Corporate Communications of Siemens AG,
+1-610-448-1477, mark.palacio@siemens.com
Web site: http://www.siemens.com/medical/
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