In digital X-ray breast imaging, radiation passes through the examined breast to a detector. Primary radiation supplies the information needed to produce the X-ray image, while scattered radiation is absorbed by special grids positioned between the breast and the detector. Unfortunately, these scatter grids also absorb part of the all-important primary radiation, forcing physicians to use a higher dose to obtain images of desired quality. Since mammography means regular screening of healthy women, minimizing dose is extremely important. Siemens’new reconstruction algorithm for the Mammomat Inspiration system
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The Somatom Perspective family of CT scanners that are particularly economical has two new members, the 16- and 32-slice configurations. These new models make numerous high-end technologies available to a broader clientele for the first time with an additional option to upgrade the systems later to the established 64- and 128-slice configurations. For all four configurations, the company now offers the innovative eCockpit technology package, which makes the Somatom Perspective not only easier and more cost-efficient to use, but also lengthens the systems’service life.
The well-established eMode function, for example, helps reduce equipment downtime by more than 20 percent. With the Somatom Perspective, Siemens Healthcare expands its product range in the lower and mediumpriced segments. The two additional configurations make it possible to tailor a CT system individually to fit particular clinical needs. For example, the 16-slice configuration is suitable above all for routine scans in oncology and for imaging the head, lungs, abdomen, or chest. However, the model is also useful in pain therapy to ensure that analgesics are delivered to the right place during surgery. The 32-slice configuration provides more detailed imaging for bone fractures, examinations of the inner ear, or vascular applications; whereas the 64-slice scanner has remarkably fast image acquisition. With particularly short scanning times, the 128-slice configuration is especially suitable for diagnostics in cardiology and pediatrics. Technologies such as Safire (Sinogram Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction) are now available in the segment of 16- and 32-slice CT scanners. The iterative image reconstruction method enables to reduce radiation dose by as much as 60 percent, or improve image quality correspondingly.
In future it will also be possible to acquire single source Dual Energy images with any Somatom Perspective model. With this innovation, the same region of the body is scanned twice in succession at two different tube voltages, i.e. energy levels, using half the radiation dose each time. Merging the two image datasets provides information not only about pure morphology, but also additional details about the composition of the scanned tissue. For example, metal artifacts
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The VesselNavigator is a 3D catheter navigation system to guide the minimally invasive treatment of patients with vascular diseases such as aortic aneurysms. It is designed for use in conjunction with Philips’interventional X-ray systems, enhances the precision and accuracy of stent placement, while at the same time significantly reducing contrast medium usage. As a result, minimally invasive treatment options will be available to patients previously unable to benefit from new image-guided intervention techniques. Developed in collaboration with clinical partners such as the University Hospital Cologne (Germany) and the University Hospital Ghent (Belgium), VesselNavigator complements Philips’current imageguided therapy portfolio within the field of endovascular and hybrid suite solutions. It addresses the need for advanced 3D live-image guidance solutions, as the treatment for vascular disease is experiencing a major transition from open surgery to minimally invasive procedures, with such procedure volumes growing at high single-digit rates. During endovascular procedures a catheter is manoeuvred, with the aid of image guidance, through major arteries or veins in order to locally position and deploy implants such as stents to reinforce the wall of the affected blood vessel. Using conventional 2D X-ray image guidance, clinicians oft en perceive the visualization of the vessel anatomy during these procedures as if a dimension is missing, adding to procedure complexity. Many are more familiar with open surgery, during which they can physically see and touch the blood vessels they are trying to repair. VesselNavigator brings back the 3D anatomy they were used to seeing in open surgery. It can be used for all types of endovascular procedures, but one of its key applications is guidance during the treatment of aortic aneurysms, which if left untreated could lead to severe complications such as massive internal bleeding. At the location of the aneurysm, the aorta oft en has smaller side branches, such as those that supply blood to the patient’s kidneys. Custom-made stents are therefore oft en made with dedicated openings that need to be precisely registered with these feeding vessels in order to repair the aorta and maintain critical blood flow to other abdominal organs. With conventional X-ray imaging it is very challenging to position the stent in the precise orientation. Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair is therefore a very complex procedure, and the more time it takes, the more contrast medium is needed for X-ray visualization and guidance in order to succeed. Vessel- Navigator fuses live interventional X-ray images with pre-acquired 3D MRI or CT images of the patient’s vascular structures. The resulting 3D colour-coded images of the vessels provide enhanced real-time visual guidance, making it easier to manoeuvre through the vascular network without the need to enhance the X-ray visualization with the repeated use of an injected contrast medium. In recent studies, VesselNavigator has been shown to reduce contrast medium usage by 70% and procedure times by 18%, contributing to more patient friendly, more efficient and more cost effective treatment of vascular conditions. With a growing population of elderly and diabetic people who suffer from poor kidney function, reducing contrast medium requirements will open up endovascular treatments to a wider range of patients. The strong growth in image-guided therapy procedures is driven by the significant benefits they off er for healthcare systems and patients, including reduced patient trauma, shorter hospital stays, and lower healthcare costs.
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MyLab Six is a complete cart-based system that can be used across a broad range of applications from cardiovascular to general imaging and women’s health. It comes with highly advanced CV features, including Compass M-Mode, Tissue Velocity Mapping, Stress Echo, XStrain and QIMT – combining to ensure complete confidence in any diagnosis. The system offers a premium yet affordable solution to customers in terms of performance, flexibility of applications and mobility. Easy workflow options and automation of key options maximize patient throughput without compromising image quality or diagnostic confidence. MyLab Six has been designed with the comfort of the user as a key priority. The rotating keyboard can easily be made higher or lower according to user preference. Similarly, an articulated arm for the screen increases comfort, as well as enabling the sharing of results with a patient or colleague quickly and easily. Ergonomic features include appleprobes
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