Siemens' Advanced Mobile Imaging Systems Improve Management of Radiation Therapy for Northern Florida Patients with Cancer
January 02 2008 - 9:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
First Mobile Biograph(TM) TruePoint(TM) PET-CT Scanners Enable
Superior Detection, Improved Staging and Accuracy, and Shorter Scan
Times for Patients HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Jan. 2
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Healthcare, Molecular Imaging
Division, (http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical) has delivered the
first two newly redesigned mobile Biograph(TM) 6 TruePoint(TM)
positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT)
systems to the Florida Radiation Oncology Group (FROG) a division
of Integrated Community Oncology Network (ICON), in Jacksonville. A
vital provider of cancer care in Northern Florida, FROG physicians
see patients at 14 facilities. The new, mobile PET-CT systems will
simplify treatment follow-up for many patients who before could
have traveled up to 60 miles for necessary follow-up imaging.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )
"PET-CT imaging has become critical in radiation oncology patient
management," said Shyam Paryani, MD, MS, MHA, director of FROG.
"Patients will benefit from having these mobile scanners in their
communities. They need multiple PET-CT scans throughout the course
of treatment and bringing the imaging to them will spare them a
multiple-hour drive when they already are in poor health." FROG is
the first customer to receive Siemens' enhanced mobile Biograph
systems. The system has been completely redesigned to incorporate
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. The mobile system has over 50% faster set-up times,
an advanced media viewer and front mounted gating inputs, adding up
to improved ergonomics and ease of use. These are also the first
mobile PET-CT systems to feature TrueV, extended field of view
technology and they are upgradeable to High-Definition PET (HD-
PET), the newest innovation in PET-CT technology from Siemens,
which provides distortion-free imaging throughout the entire field
of view. When TrueV and HD-PET are combined, FROG physicians will
have a larger and clearer field of view than they have experienced
with older technology. The result will yield improved resolution
all the way down to 2 mm. That means physicians will be able to
clearly visualize the smallest of lesions from the center of the
PET image to the edges. "Our goal is to provide all medical
communities with access to the best and newest molecular imaging
technologies available," said Michael Reitermann, president,
Siemens Healthcare, Molecular Imaging. "By enhancing our mobile
PET-CT offerings, patients living in any area of the country can
benefit from the promise of earlier, more targeted cancer
treatment." FROG physicians routinely participate in national
clinical trials. Now with access to improved mobile imaging they
will be able to enroll more patients in these trials of innovative
radiation therapy treatment methods. For instance, a number of
clinical trials are examining the effects of image- guided
radiation therapy, where the goal is to determine if these highly
targeted treatments can improve patient outcomes while decreasing
the related toxicity when radiation is delivered near critical
healthy structures. About Siemens Healthcare Siemens 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 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 Healthcare employs more than 49,000 people worldwide and
operates in 130 countries. According to IFRS, 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.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGODATASOURCE:
Siemens Medical Solutions CONTACT: Kristen Saponaro, Siemens
Medical Solutions, +1-610-448-4729, Web site:
http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical
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