Siemens Sets the Beat at Heart Rhythm 2005; Company to Launch Sensis Upgrade, Showcase AcuNav Ultrasound Catheter.

NEW ORLEANS -- Siemens Medical Solutions will demonstrate its commitment to innovation for the electrophysiology (EP) lab with the launch of enhancements to its successful AXIOM Sensis hemodynamic and electrophysiological recording system at the annual Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions, held May 4-7 in New Orleans. At booth #725, the company also will showcase the ACUSON AcuNav(TM) 8F ultrasound catheter, which offers the medical community an even smaller tool to visualize the entire heart during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Siemens will introduce new software upgrades to the AXIOM Sensis hemodynamic and electrophysiological recording system. Customers currently using the AXIOM Sensis for EP needs will automatically receive the software upgrades, which will implement additional functionality and further improve clinical workflow by offering several new applications:

--Vital signs logging -- Providing a more thorough final report, clinicians have the option of automatically logging heart rate, non-invasive blood pressure, SpO2 (pulse oximetry), and respiration rate into the AXIOM Sensis Database.

--Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurements -- Additional values to measure NIBP allow for maximum pressure selection, while a new shortcut results in faster start and stop NIBP measurements.

--Automatic simultaneous non-standard gradients -- With this new enhancement, all gradients between two sites located in the same anatomical region (non-standard gradients) can be calculated automatically from pullback or simultaneous measurement.

--Arrhythmia detection and recording -- Arrhythmia thresholds can be user-configured to automatically detect and record bradycardias and tachycardias.

--Examination archiving -- The system's archiving feature automatically splits recordings in case they exceed the capacity of storage media.

--AXIOM Sensis data exchange -- Data transfer between two systems, such as the AXIOM Sensis acquisition system and the AXIOM Sensis post-processing workstation, can be performed using DICOM Query and DICOM Retrieve functionality. Additionally, the recording studies or waveforms can be archived on ACOM.net.

Clearly and concisely providing accurate calculations of data obtained during catheterization, AXIOM Sensis is recognized as a true combination lab solution, offering exceptional signal quality, integration, and high fidelity reporting capabilities. As a testament to the system's success, Siemens recently announced the 500th installation of its AXIOM Sensis system at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital in Houston.

"Our customers' needs for clinical efficiency, including streamlined data management and report creation, were top-of-mind in the development of Sensis," said Manfred Fink, vice president, Angiography and X-ray Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. "The convergence of digital imaging technology with a hemodynamic and electrophysiological recording system provides the total, integrated solution for the EP lab. Now, with significant enhancements to the AXIOM Sensis system, we are further improving functionality, patient throughput and clinical workflow."

Because the AXIOM Sensis and all of the AXIOM Artis systems are equipped with syngo(R), the standard user interface from Siemens, all patient demographic data can be seamlessly shared. This enables physicians to create a comprehensive patient report during the exam, including stored reference images, and allows them to complete the patient report seconds after finishing the procedure.

Also highlighted at this year's show will be the AcuNav 8F catheter, which enables improved access in all patients, particularly smaller patients and for left heart applications in electrophysiology and interventional cardiology. The new catheter is sized at eight French and is 33 percent smaller in the cross sectional area than the existing ACUSON AcuNav 10F catheter. According to clinical evaluators, the smaller size coupled with the same performance as the AcuNav 10F catheter is a significant improvement and allows access to a wider range of patients.

The company also will showcase the ACUSON CV70(TM) cardiovascular ultrasound system, providing dedicated and complete cardiovascular capabilities in a powerful, all-digital ultrasound system offering exceptional quality, Doppler sensitivity, color flow sensitivity, and spatial resolution. With its foursight(TM) transesophageal (TEE) view for integrated three-dimensional (3D) TEE imaging, and P9-4 transducer for pediatric cardiac imaging, the system enables easier access to 3D/4D images through simple acquisition, review, manipulation, and dynamic display capabilities of 3D datasets using the V5Ms TEE transducer.

During Heart Rhythm 2005, Siemens will support two symposia and a dinner reception*. "Applications of Biventricular Pacing, Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation and Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion," addressing the clinical utility of the AcuNav catheter, will be held in the Ernst Memorial Convention Center, room 342, on May 4 from 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Sponsored by HMP Communications, "Imaging in Electrophysiology: Present and Future Perspectives" will be held at the New Orleans Marriott on May 4 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and will focus on hot topics facing today's EP lab including the integration of 3D imaging and electroanatomical mapping, and the utilization of remote navigation systems.

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 7.07 billion EUR, orders of 8.12 billion EUR and group profit of 1.05 billion EUR for fiscal 2004. More information can be obtained by visiting http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

* These events are not part of the official Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions as planned by the Annual Scientific Sessions Program Committee.

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