Trauma & Routine Assessments Enhanced With World's First Adaptive CT

Main Category: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  Neurology / Neuroscience;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 07 Dec 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Siemens Medical Solutions has developed the SOMATOM Definition AS, the first CT scanner that adapts to virtually any patient and clinical need. The system is suitable for routine diagnostic work and complex examinations including oncology, neurology and cardiology. The first system has recently been installed at the University Hospital Trauma Centre in Erlangen, Germany.

The SOMATOM Definition AS provides a fast and accurate diagnosis making the system highly suitable for emergency situations, such as accidents, heart attacks and strokes, where a swift course of treatment can be life saving. It also speeds up examinations for traditionally difficult patients such as children, the obese and those suffering from claustrophobia, thereby alleviating potentially stressful situations and still ensuring the highest diagnostic confidence.

The SOMATOM Definition AS is the first scanner to combine dynamic components, such as the Adaptive Dose Shield, with a scan length of up to 200cm and a 78cm gantry opening. This allows fast and problem-free head-to-foot scanning, even for poly trauma patients. The unique Adaptive Dose Shield blocks unnecessary radiation ensuring the patient will only be exposed to a clinically relevant dose.

The unequalled high temporal resolution of up to 150 ms, combined with extremely fast coverage with up to 128 slices per rotation, delivers crystal-clear images, free of movement artifacts and showing the finest anatomical details. This permits, for example, highly accurate measurement of stenosis and/or precise planning for stent implantation.

Another outstanding feature is the new Adaptive 4D-Spiral. The continuous movement of the patient table permits a larger area to be imaged so that entire organs and functions can be examined with a single scan. In a stroke situation, the entire brain perfusion can be displayed, whereas with previous systems, only a portion of the affected organ could be imaged.

"We hope to diagnose strokes earlier than ever before. The earlier we get the patient to therapy, the better," said Werner Bautz, M.D., Director of the Institute for Radiology and Medical Director of the University Hospital Erlangen.

Minimal invasive procedures will also become faster and more certain. Biopsies of suspicious tumour tissues can, for the first time, be performed with the help of 3D image guidance. Accurate needle positioning will therefore become a clinical routine.

The enormous flexibility of the SOMATOM Definition AS decisively improves workflow and facilitates the integration of CT-imaging into the clinical care process in virtually all clinical and patient situations. "A SOMATOM Definition CT scanner transforms itself into a stroke unit, a non-invasive cath lab, a therapy management tool for cancer patients, or an interventional suite - all according to the need of the individual patient," said Bernd Montag, President, Siemens Medical Solutions, CT Division. "All of these advances work to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare while keeping the costs down."

The SOMATOM Definition family consists of the SOMATOM Definition Dual Source and the new SOMATOM Definition AS.

The Definition AS will be available in 40-slice, 64-slice and 128-slice configurations. It offers a 18sq. m. footprint and will therefore fit into rooms that were traditionally too small for high-end scanners.

About Siemens Medical Solutions in the UK

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 is a single-source provider of 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 (until Sept. 30th) Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 9.85 billion €, orders of 10.27 billion € and group profit of 1.32 billion € (preliminary figures, unaudited).

http://www.siemens.co.uk/medical