Siemens Solutions Transform Interventional Cardiology Care; TCT Attendees View Cath Lab of the Future, Technologies Improve Care from Early Detection to Treatment to Follow-Up.

WASHINGTON -- Siemens Medical Solutions unveils integrated technology solutions that help cardiologists address shrinking budgets, time-pressured staffs, and demands for quality patient care at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's (CRF) Seventeenth Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, in Washington, D.C. October 16-21. Focusing on the cardiac catheterization (cath) lab, visitors to booth #664 will witness innovative imaging and information technology (IT) solutions that increase hospital productivity and give clinicians precise patient information when and where they need it.

"Chances are, cardiac illness will affect you or someone you know," said Manfred Fink, vice president, Angiography and X-ray Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. "We want to change those chances and give cardiologists new and better tools to save lives and improve patients' journeys from early detection, through treatment and follow-up."

Driving improved patient outcomes are advanced digital imaging solutions that gather clearer, more detailed cardiovascular pictures and enable more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This imaging information is also integrated with other patient data and shared via innovative IT systems to support a complete electronic patient record and improve cath lab workflow and throughput. Siemens Medical Solutions is showcasing the following technological advancements as part of its integrated cath lab solution.

Large Flat Detector Cardiac Imaging

Enabling cardiac and peripheral applications, the AXIOM Artis with large flat detector 30X40 configuration is a fully digital, ceiling-mounted cardiac imaging system designed to connect the cath lab as an integral part of the hospital's cardiology department. The system provides the speed, flexibility, and integration needed for cardiology procedures, with a unique design for accessibility to the patient. It also provides access to CT and MR, arming cardiologists with additional information needed for effective treatment planning.

Integrated Recording System

Also available is the AXIOM Sensis hemodynamic and recording system, designed to improve workflow in the cath lab. The system provides accurate calculations of hemodynamic and electrophysiologic data obtained during catheterization, and presents data clearly and concisely to allow clinicians more time to spend with the patient. This lets physicians create a comprehensive patient report during the exam, including stored reference images, and complete the patient report seconds after finishing the procedure.

Wireless Control and Comfort

Providing clinicians with increased flexibility and operator comfort, Siemens introduces AXIOM Artis Wireless Footswitch* and Voice Control*. The wireless footswitch* eliminates the hazard of excess cables often found in the examination room and reduces the risk of tripping. It can be easily adjusted to the user's needs, offering optimum flexibility. With AXIOM Artis Voice Control*, parts of the AXIOM system can be controlled through hands-free operation, easing workflow and increasing patient throughput. This means cardiologists can stay focused on the catheter, the images, and the patient.

Virus Protected Technology

Siemens' Virus Protection is designed to safeguard cath lab technology against malicious software attacks that could infect equipment and potentially delay diagnosis and treatment of patients. The program helps maximize system availability and facilitate smoother clinical operation, using three major components: a virus scanner running on the system, ongoing virus protection updates, and availability of service engineers trained in dealing with viruses.

Enhanced Technology for Echocardiography 

Also being showcased is the new ACUSON AcuNav(TM) 8F ultrasound catheter. Sized at eight French, it is 33 percent smaller in the cross sectional area yet provides the same high resolution and depth of imaging as the AcuNav 10F catheter. The smaller size enables improved access during closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) on smaller patients, and left heart applications for both interventional cardiology and electrophysiology, bringing intracardiac echocardiography to a wider range of patients. Providing visualization of vascular and cardiac anatomy and physiology, measurement of blood flow, and visualization of other devices throughout the entire heart, the AcuNav 8F catheter currently is available on the ACUSON Sequoia(TM) ultrasound platforms, the ACUSON CV70(TM) cardiovascular system, and the ACUSON Cypress(TM) cardiovascular system.

The high-performance, ultra-portable ACUSON Cypress(TM) cardiovascular system offers an affordable, simple and fast all-digital workflow solution, designed to eliminate the use of video for any echocardiography and/or vascular department. The Cypress system utilizes a single probe for high performance vascular applications and complete vascular calculations, in addition to the existing echocardiography and intracardiac capabilities.

Single Click Evaluation

syngo(R) Circulation, a dedicated cardiovascular CT solution designed to fast-track robust morphological and functional analysis and reporting in one intuitive software application, recently received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available on the SOMATOM(R) Sensation computed tomography (CT) system, it guides the clinician through cardiac evaluation from automated heart and coronary vessel segmentation, to stenosis quantification, to fully automated functional analysis and reporting, in less than 10 minutes. With a single click, the heart can be isolated from the rib cage, facilitating rapid assessment of the overall cardiac anatomy and optimized stent planning.

Connecting it all with IT

Tying the entire cath lab solution together is Soarian Cardiology(R), a dynamic information solution designed to address the specific clinical, financial and operational workflow challenges of the cardiac care team. Soarian Cardiology allows users to build a continuous, comprehensive electronic patient record that includes medications, lab results, images, ECG, physiological waveforms, and documentation - empowering cardiologists to make faster, more informed care decisions.

Siemens' KinetDx(TM) Network is a multi-modality, dynamic image review, diagnosis and archiving system using evidence-based reporting to help improve the efficiency of clinical procedures. The scalable solution provides similar benefits for offices, imaging clinics, hospitals and multi-facility enterprise health systems. Optional interfacing to clinical or hospital information systems expands the benefits by simplifying the distribution of results in a variety of formats and helps facilities create a filmless and paperless environment.

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.

*AXIOM Artis Wireless Footswitch and AXIOM Artis Voice Control are pending 510(k) review and are not yet commercially available in the U.S.

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