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october 2005
AXIOM SIRESKOP SD WITH MOBILE FLAT DETECTOR – IMPROVED WORKFLOW IN THE FLUORO ROOM
AXIOM Sireskop SD, a universal system designed to streamline operations and patient flow in fluoroscopy as well as radiography, is a fusion of innovative information technology and cutting-edge medical technology. Equipped with a mobile flat detector, it provides medical professionals with a single imaging solution for all digital radiographic and fluoroscopic procedures – from pediatrics to bariatrics. The tablesidecontrolled system features comprehensive dose reduction and high-capacity X-ray tubes that allow flexibility for various patient types with excellent image quality. The mobile flat detector enables clinicians to improve workflow, as no films or cassettes are needed anymore in image processing. Also, all images are now available in one patient folder and no longer have to be merged on PACS workstations. From the point of acquisition to follow-up data review, reporting, and archiving, AXIOM Artis dTC is a perfect fit in most clinics’ operational and communicative workflow environments. Its networking features include full DICOM compliance for outstanding interactive informational exchange capabilities as well as IT networking within the cath lab and across virtually all modalities.
AXIOM ARTIS dBC MAGNETIC NAVIGATION – MAGNETIC-ASSISTED INTERVENTION
NOW AVAILABLE WITH A BIPLANE SYSTEM
Once again Siemens’ and Stereotaxis’ cooperation proved to
be profitable. Their newest combination – AXIOM Artis dBC
Magnetic Navigation – offers all the advantages of magneticassisted
intervention and biplane angio possibilities.
In 2003, the first AXIOM Artis dFC MN was installed at Central
Baptist Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. This monoplane
system offers magnetic navigation of guidewires and is
primarily used for electrophysiological applications, although
it can also be used for interventional procedures.
Now, two years later, Siemens has integrated two magnets
into the biplane system AXIOM Artis dBC. With the help of
the magnets located outside the patient’s body, the clinician
can accurately navigate catheters and guidewires through
the complex vessels and chambers of the heart directly from
the control room. Time-consuming conventional catheter
steering is thus made unnecessary. The first installation of an
AXIOM Artis dBC Magnetic Navigation was completed in
June 2005 at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland,
Ohio, USA. The Cleveland Clinic performed three bi-ventricular
cases on the first day of practice, receiving excellent initial feedback. More interventions with magnetic catheter guidance on the AXIOM Artis dBC MN are planned.
SONOLINE G40 – COLOR DOPPLER CAPABILITIES ON THE MOVE
The SONOLINE G40 ultrasound system is the latest member of the Siemens SONOLINE ultrasound product family. It combines best-in-class image quality, workflow advancements, and color Doppler capabilities to meet daily clinical needs in a variety of clinical settings, including general imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and internal medicine. “SONOLINE G40 is the latest example of how Siemens is integrating best-in-class imaging technology and clinical workflow advancements into high-value systems that are responsive to clinicians’ needs,” explains Klaus Hambüchen, head of Siemens Medical’s Ultrasound Division. “A performance- driven, color Doppler ultrasound solution, this ultraportable system brings these comprehensive clinical capabilities to practices and clinics of every size and case load.” The intuitive user interface of the G40 system allows clinicians to offer comprehensive diagnostic ultrasound exams to more patients in less time. The compact system design with builtin cable management offers easy transportation and micropositioning in all clinical environments, and the DIMAQ-IP integrated workstation includes a built-in CD read/write drive for cost-effective output and archiving of exam data. In addition, embedded connectivity solutions allow simple integration into DICOM-enabled networks and PC-based workstations.
MOTION UNDER CONTROL WITH NEW MRI SOLUTIONS ‘BLADE‘ AND ‘3D PACE‘
“BLADE” is the name of a new MRI technique to reduce sensitivity to patient motion. For patients of all ages, stroke patients, or patients in pain who cannot stay still, clear-cut head imaging is possible – even if a patient is agitated or anxious. The technique supports Dark Fluid, T1, and T2 brain imaging, in all 3 orientations – axial, sagittal, and coronal – and is compatible with all coils, including the latest-technology Tim (Total imaging matrix) coils. Another technique ensuring diagnostic quality is 3D PACE, prospective motion correction used for functional MRI. During functional MRI, data is acquired over several minutes to detect brain activation while the patient is performing a task. Because of the long acquisition time, patient movement is common and consequently image quality is reduced. As 3D PACE works prospectively, the detected motion is automatically corrected before the next acquisition starts. This is a big step forward in providing robust functional MRI.
DIGITAL WORKFLOW IN LITHOTRIPSY
The MODULARIS urology platform, in combination with the new mobile ARCADIS C-arms, now offers digital patient data management for lithotripsy. Patient data is retrieved from the HIS/RIS via DICOM-Worklist function. The brand new LithoReport is a comprehensive tool for documentation of lithotripsy procedures, which automatically includes patient data and the relevant shock wave data. The intuitively designed user interface is easy to use and the user can document the entire examination process digitally with only a few clicks. Acquired data and images generated during treatment are sent to the archive and are available for case studies or statistic analysis at any time.
ARCADIS AVANTIC – THE POWERFUL NEW MEMBER OF THE C-ARM FAMILY BY SIEMENS
Siemens recently introduced its new mobile C-arm system ARCADIS Avantic. This multipurpose, high-end mobile C-arm provides up to 20 kW/250 mA and is equipped with an industryleading 13“ (33 cm) image intensifier. Because it provides an exceptionally large field of view of the region to be examined, the system is ideally suited for imaging in vascular and cardiac surgery, electrophysiology, gastroenterology, orthopedic surgery, trauma, and spine surgery, pain management, and urology. ARCADIS Avantic is based on syngo, the easy, intuitively operated software platform for all Siemens modalities that effectively simplifies clinical workflows. With syngo, ARCADIS Avantic supports all DICOM 3 functions. Due to its lightweight design, the system is easy to maneuver and exceptionally suitable for clinical situations where physicians need a high-end mobile C-arm and a large field of view. The many improvements in the area of design, image aquisition, and workflow integration make imaging more accurate and efficient.
SOMATOM SENSATION OPEN WITH 40 SLICES
With SOMATOM® Sensation Open, Siemens Medical Solutions provides a 40-slice computed tomography (CT) system ideally supporting workflow and applications in oncology care. The system features an extra large 82 cm gantry bore and an 82-cm equally large field of view. Thanks to its high image resolution of below 0.4 mm, it is ideally suited for early detection and staging examinations, as it visualizes even the smallest changes in nodule size. Its large volume coverage of up to 28.8 mm per rotation supports advanced perfusion studies. And its large gantry bore facilitates imageguided interventions, such as biopsies, and eases patient positioning for radiation treatment planning. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, was one of the first clinical sites to install the new system. An optional high-capacity patient table, developed as part of the CT Clinical Innovation Center partnership between Mayo and Siemens, was also installed with the system to offer advanced CT imaging capabilities for extremely heavy patients. The table allows the scanning of patients weighing up to 615 lbs, compared to 450 lbs for conventional patient tables.
syngoTrueD: EFFICIENT THERAPY TRACKING FOR HYBRID IMAGING
Monitoring the effect of treatment is a rapidly growing area for hybrid imaging in oncology. Hybrid imaging procedures, such as PET/CT, can help determine whether the patient achieved a rapid response to chemotherapy, aid in the determination of the prognostic value of a specific therapeutic regimen, or review any residual activity remaining after the delivery of radiotherapy. The new software application syngo TrueD supports therapy tracking with hybrid imaging by making the comparison of pretreatment and posttreatment studies easy and efficient. syngo TrueD provides automatic 3D registration across serial studies to connect the multiple image sets. Volumes of interest (VOIs) can be created on the pretherapy study and, with a single click, be applied to the corresponding image of the posttherapy study. syngo TrueD thus supports quantification, such as percentage change comparisons calculated on areas of abnormal tracer uptake. The application provides the ability for the user to save VOIs, which can be applied to other studies that are interpreted as the patient is monitored over time. VOIs can also be stored for loading the data into radiation therapy planning applications. In addition to PET/CT, syngo TrueD also supports hybrid imaging with SPECT/CT and PET/MR. The syngo TrueD application will be available in early 2006.
SIEMENS ACQUIRES SENSANT CORPORATION TO COMMERCIALIZE NEXT-GENERATION ULTRASOUND
TRANSDUCER TECHNOLOGY
Siemens Medical Solutions has acquired Sensant Corp., a
company that specializes in the development of Capacitive
Microfabricated Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) technology.
Siemens wants to commercialize this innovative technology
that is expected to offer superior and efficient volumetric
four-dimensional imaging for a wide range of applications.
A broader frequency range and higher image resolution
will allow clinicians to examine the next level of microscopic
detail within conventional and 4D ultrasound.
According to Klaus Hambüchen, president and CEO of
Siemens’ ultrasound division, this technology will enable
higher frequency imaging that lets clinicians view the
smallest details within the body. Says Igal Ladabaum, CEO
of Sensant Corporation: “By enabling physicians to reach a
confident diagnosis faster and more easily, volumetric 4D
imaging will improve patient care and reduce overall costs
to patients and healthcare systems.”
