Siemens Introduces Significant Advancements for ACUSON Sequoia Ultrasound Platform at AHA; New Features Enhance Left Ventricular Function Assessment While Improving Clinical Workflow.

DALLAS -- Siemens Medical Solutions continues to advance cardiovascular ultrasound, particularly for left ventricular (LV) imaging and congestive heart failure with its Encompass III release* on the ACUSON Sequoia(TM) C512 ultrasound platform. This latest in a series of three releases over the past 11 months is being highlighted at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Dallas from Nov. 13 through 16, 2005 (booth # 507).

The Encompass III release further enhances the ergonomics and workflow features offered on both the Encompass I and II releases for the Sequoia platform. Offering physicians clinical application solutions and workflow features, the Encompass III release includes an exciting new means to assess the heart's contraction mechanics using ultrasound information called Axius Velocity Vector Imaging(TM) (VVI).

Additionally, the release includes Axius Auto EF(TM), a proprietary computer-aided detection (CAD) technology that automatically calculates ejection fraction without the need for operator interaction. Other features include a set of re-synchronization tools based on Doppler Tissue Imaging (DTI) technology, and fourSight(TM) real-time 3D imaging technology for transthoracic applications with a volumetric calculations package.

ACUSON Sequoia Ultrasound Platform

With Axius VVI, clinicians can now see a graphical presentation of tissue motion using arrows to display direction and relative velocity of motion in one ventricle, providing clinicians the ability to see a "freeze frame" of motion at any point in the cardiac cycle. This enables clinicians to easily visualize both contraction and relaxation mechanics and offers a new method for assessing cardiac function for the primary objectives of ventricular assessment and congestive heart failure.

"VVI is a promising new technology that provides unique insight into ventricular mechanics," said Jim Thomas, M.D., Charles and Lorraine Moore Chair of Cardiovascular Imaging, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation. "We have found it to be helpful in evaluating patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and candidates for biventricular pacing."

The new Axius Auto EF helps to enhance accuracy and workflow by automatically detecting and calculating the most common cardiac function parameters using Siemens' proprietary pattern recognition technology. The Auto EF technology helps reduce observer variability by bringing expert-level interpretation to every exam. As a result, clinical diagnoses and support are more accurate and exam time is shortened. Additionally, the new Axius(TM) Quantitative Synch Tools, intended for comprehensive assessment of ventricular synchronization and congestive heart failure, offer clinicians rapid display of the relative timing of contraction from different parts of the heart, user-selected regional sampling, and a complete suite of strain imaging capabilities.

"Auto EF is a novel 2D echo image analysis system that uses artificial intelligence pattern and shape recognition to rapidly and reproducibly calculate ejection fraction," said John Gorcsan, M.D., professor of medicine, director of echocardiography, University of Pittsburgh. "We studied over 100 patients with a wide range of ventricular function and found Auto EF to be possible in more than 90 percent of our patients, with the remaining patients requiring some manual editing. It requires less time than manual EF and shows strong clinical potential."

Siemens also announced its real-time 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) offerings called fourSight(TM) RT3D** imaging. Building on the Sequoia system's coherent image formation, RT3D provides accurate reconstruction of complex anatomy for improved calculation accuracy and reproducibility in volume measurements. The package also features the new 4Z1c RT3D transducer, which is both lighter and smaller than existing 3D transducers. The new transducer is packaged in a novel ergonomic shape, specially designed for a better hand fit to help reduce user strain and fatigue.

"By bringing volumetric acquisition and quantification of 3D sets to the industry's top-selling ultrasound platform, we are expanding the value and versatility of our customers' investment in their Sequoia cardiovascular systems," said Klaus Hambuechen, president, Ultrasound Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. "With three Encompass releases for the Sequoia platform this year, not only have we introduced applications that increase the quality of the system and reduce the time needed for echocardiographic assessment of heart patients, we are offering our customers unequaled clinical value in their businesses."

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Employing approximately 31,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 120 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 7.6 billion EUR, orders of 8.6 billion EUR and group profit of 976 million EUR for fiscal 2005. More information can be obtained by visiting http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

* The Encompass III release is not yet commercially available.

** The RT3D is not yet commercially available.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.