MALVERN, Pa., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Medical Solutions completed its first installation of a mobile digital mammography system in the U.S. The MAMMOMAT(R) NovationDR, a full-field digital mammography system, is featured as part of the Nevada Cancer Institute’s (NVCI) new Hope Coach, a mobile digital mammography van serving the Las Vegas area.
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The Hope Coach was launched on Oct. 1 to mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The custom-designed mobile imaging facility will visit worksites and other venues throughout the Las Vegas area, making breast cancer screening more convenient for women whose busy lifestyle may keep them from undergoing the recommended examination. A recent federal survey found that nearly 40 percent of all American women over the age of 40 do not receive annual mammograms(i).
“The combination of our MAMMOMAT NovationDR system and NVCI’s mobile Hope Coach gives women in Las Vegas the opportunity to take advantage of the best of both worlds: high-quality digital mammography and the convenience of having the imaging facility come to them,” said Anders Steiner, vice president, Special Systems Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. “We recognize that improving access to mammography for women is a vital component of the fight against breast cancer and commend NVCI’s efforts in the Las Vegas community to this end.”
The Hope Coach is equipped with the MAMMOMAT NovationDR, a state-of-the- art digital mammography system that features a flat panel detector built on amorphous Selenium (aSe) technology. This enables the direct conversion of X- ray to digital information and provides high spatial resolution and excellent clinical detail. The combination of the proprietary detector technology and the unique X-ray tube allows for high-quality imaging with reduced dose exposure. The 24x29-centimeter detector panel is designed to image a wide range of patient breast sizes, while the compression paddle is designed for ease of positioning and for patient comfort.
“We wanted the system on the coach to be digital and we already have a Siemens unit at NVCI’s main office that we have found to be very easy to work with,” said Tracie Stuckey-Arana, BS, RT(R)(M), NVCI Breast Imaging Supervisor. “I love that it’s so fast and that I can see the images quickly. It also helps that we already have the Siemens’ reading station at the main office, so configuring the Hope Coach to work with it was easy.”
When an exam on the Hope Coach is finished, the mammographer immediately submits the digital images electronically to NVCI’s main office for interpretation. The van is also equipped with a digitizer so that films brought by patients can be submitted electronically along with the most recent images for comparison. Once the studies are received at NVCI’s main office, they are read and the images are stored on the facility’s picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). Patients receive their results in approximately five days.
About Nevada Cancer Institute
Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is the official cancer institute for the State of Nevada. A nonprofit organization, NVCI is committed to reducing the burden of cancer by pursuing the development of a comprehensive cancer research institute, as defined by the National Cancer Institute. Through the knowledge and expertise of the finest scientists, clinicians, educators and caregivers, the Institute provides hope to communities in Nevada, the southwest and beyond through research, education, early detection, prevention and high quality patient care. NVCI is striving for a future without cancer that is achieved through initiated and collaborative research in basic, clinical and population science. For more information, please visit www.nevadacancerinstitute.org or call (702) 822-LIFE.
About Siemens Medical Solutions
Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG is one of the world’s largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Recent acquisitions in the area of in-vitro diagnostics -- such as Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics -- mark a significant milestone for Siemens as it becomes the first full service diagnostics company. Employing more than 41,000 people worldwide and operating in over 130 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 8.23 billion EUR, orders of 9.33 billion EUR and group profit of 1.06 billion EUR for fiscal 2006 (Sept. 30). Further information can be found by visiting www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.
(i) Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System Public Use Data Tape 2002,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003.
CONTACT: Paul Crowell of Siemens Medical Solutions, +1-610-448-4974,
paul.crowell@siemens.com
Web site: http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical/
http://www.nevadacancerinstitute.org/
