Siemens Releases Software to Deliver Considerable Workflow Benefits to Molecular Imaging Customers.

Seven of the Top 10 Hospitals Ranked by U.S. News and World Report Are Using Siemens TrueD Software to Enhance Radiation Oncology Workflow.*

WASHINGTON -- Siemens Medical Solutions Molecular Imaging division (www.usa.siemens.com/medical) is demonstrating three new syngo([R])software packages that bring molecular imaging customers improved ease of use, improved accuracy and improved workflows in radiology, neurology, radiation oncology and general molecular imaging departments. The oncology software is already being used to increase the nuclear medicine departmental efficiency at many of the nation's top cancer centers including the University of Michigan Hospitals, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Cleveland Clinic. The Molecular Imaging division of Siemens Medical Solutions is displaying the software in booth #606 at the Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting in Washington from June 2-6.

Siemens showed an enhanced version of its syngo TrueD software, which was designed for the diagnosis, staging and assessment of cancer treatment response. The new software is a major workflow improvement for those who use hybrid imaging systems, like positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET*CT) combination systems, to manage patients with cancer.

"We ensure that our clinical applications meet the leading edge clinical workflow demands of our customers," said Ronald D. Petrocelli, chief medical officer, Siemens Medical Solutions, Molecular Imaging. "Our customers have helped us fine-tune this version of TrueD in regard to advanced therapy monitoring and PET*CT respiratory gating workflow."

TrueD allows users to quickly fuse and compare up to three PET*CT or single photon emission computed tomography and CT (SPECT*CT) studies simultaneously. Using this method to examine anatomical or functional changes as a result of cancer therapy allows physicians to monitor progress over a course of treatment and to possibly make more timely decisions as to the effectiveness of treatment. Patients who lack significant response may be moved to alternative therapies that could be more successful.

If patients have more than two prior studies, users can easily drop in new comparison studies without disrupting workflow. The software also fuses magnetic resonance imaging studies with traditional nuclear medicine studies. TrueD provides superior workflow through the fusion of gated images acquired on Siemens' Biograph PET*CT scanners and exporting those images to radiation therapy planning systems. Gated images allow physicians to see and account for the body's regular breathing motion when planning radiation therapy. Visualizing the tumor and the surrounding normal tissue movement during normal breathing allows physicians to spare even more healthy tissue when planning treatment.

syngo Circulation

At the Society of Nuclear Medicine meeting, Siemens also announced that its popular syngo Circulation software is now available to use with its hybrid imaging scanners. The software provides a complete, noninvasive cardiac evaluation in less than 10 minutes and it will provide even more diagnostic information when conducting nuclear cardiac stress tests, for example. The software can perform everything from quantitative coronary assessment to left ventricular analysis and it can fuse all of the data into a single report.

syngo Circulation provides a one-click segmentation of the coronary artery tree, giving users an angiography-like view. They can also add additional vessel segments with single clicks. The software also has several advanced, 3D image reconstruction options, such as free-rotating, curved, multiplanar reformatting.

syngo Scenium([R])

Siemens also showcased syngo Scenium([R]) for neurological evaluations with either PET*CT or SPECT*CT imaging. Scenium combines standard anatomy and a comprehensive database of "normal" brain scans and matches those against newly acquired clinical scans. It automatically correlates the current patient study with an "average" healthy brain for preliminary abnormality computation. The fusion engine produces results that are reliable and reproducible between multiple sessions and multiple users.

With superior quantification tools, Scenium performs a voxel-by-voxel evaluation of the abnormal regions and automatically identifies anatomical regions of interest, which are optimized for dementia evaluation. It also renders a color-coded statistical analysis that highlights patterns of hyper-metabolism and hypo-metabolism and incorporates these data elements into clinical reports.

About Siemens Medical Solutions

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. 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. Recent acquisitions in the area of in-vitro diagnostics - such as Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics - mark a significant milestone for Siemens as it becomes the first full service diagnostics company. Employing more than 41,000 people worldwide and operating in over 130 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 8.23 billion EUR, orders of 9.33 billion EUR and group profit of 1.06 billion EUR for fiscal 2006 (Sept. 30). Further information can be found by visiting www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

*US News and World Report 2006