Siemens shows benefits of merging imaging and IT, advances in cardiac MRI

Siemens Medical Solutions this week demonstrated its products that integrate imaging and information technologies (IT) developed to improve patient care and reduce costs in cardiac care at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Dallas.

Merging medical imaging technology, IT, management consulting, and services provides a total cardiac solution throughout the entire continuum of care. This facilitates the diagnostic and therapeutic process, while allowing hospitals to enhance workflow for optimum quality and efficiency. Supporting this evolution in cardiac care, Siemens maintains very close contact with customers to help them meet their clinical and business challenges with a truly comprehensive solution.

New technologies Siemens showcased at AHA include:

• SOMATOM Sensation 64 CT scanner, currently the world's fastest and most advanced CT system with a gantry rotation speed of up to 0.33 seconds. Utilizing z-Sharp Technology, the system is optimized for cardiac, thoracic and vascular imaging, virtually freezing the heart's motion. For the first time, CT allows evaluation of the most common causes of acute chest pain with a single scan;
  
  
• syngo BEAT combines tools for cardiac MRI such as morphology, function, tissue characterization and 3D coronary anatomy in one simple tool which should enable cardiologists to detect and diagnose disease earlier and increase treatment options. Tim (Total imaging matrix) technology and iPAT (integrated Parallel Acquisition Techniques) are available with syngo BEAT to enable high-resolution acquisitions at high speed for both cardiac and vascular exams, with most completed within 10 to 30 minutes. This also extends cardiac MRI, such as cardiac function, whole heart coronary tree and cardiac morphology, into the realm of 3D.;
  
  
• Soarian Disease Management, a web-based disease management solution designed to support the supervision of patients with congestive heart failure by proactively monitoring the patient to identify changes in the patient's clinical condition and avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions; and
  
  
• Axius Velocity Vector Imaging, a new tool for ultrasound imaging providing more comprehensive cardiac contraction and motion data with the possibility to evaluate cardiac anatomy in patients with congestive heart failure, dyssynchrony, and other myocardial function disorders.