Siemens Healthcare (Erlangen, Germany) presented a portfolio of cardiovascular care imaging technologies, in vitro diagnostics, information technology (IT) solutions, and consulting services at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress, held during September 2011 in Paris (France).

Among the systems presented was the updated ACUSON SC2000 volume imaging ultrasound system, setting new standards in four-dimensional (4D) echocardiography workflow. In one heart cycle and without stitching or electrocardiogram (ECG) gating, the system acquires the full volume of the heart at a 90x90 degree angle, including volumetric quantification of color Doppler, as well as the left and right ventricles.

Angiography solutions presented included the Artis zee and Artis zeego systems, designed to support complex cardiology interventions. The Artis zeego assists in the treatment of structural heart diseases with a unique positioning flexibility and quality 2D and 3D imaging; a new generation of X-ray tubes further optimize the images, resulting in image contrast being more readily visible than before, even in real-time imaging of adipose patients at the lowest achievable doses. Intra-procedural representations of anatomy using the syngo DynaCT Cardiac software also play a major role in reconstructing the images captured during rotational angiography into a virtual 3D reconstruction.

The Cardiac Dot workflow engine, developed to reduce the complexity of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and to increase productivity available in the MAGNETOM scanners was also showcased. The new technology guides the user step-by-step through cardiac procedures, which are widely regarded to be some of the most complex MRI examinations. Customized protocols are automatically selected based on the patient’s condition and clinical indication. Standardized long and short axis views are generated based on anatomical landmarks, and are automatically carried over for subsequent sequences. Through the user guidance, patient personalization, and exam automation provided by Dot, imaging departments can increase their productivity by up to 50%.

Solutions for nuclear cardiology were also demonstrated via IQ•SPECT on the Symbia S and Symbia T series, SPECT, and SPECT•CT systems; IQ•SPECT dramatically reduces the length of imaging protocols from 20 minutes to less than five minutes. The shortened exams enable a sustainable approach to nuclear cardiology to potentially decrease radiation dose and make procedures more tolerable for the elderly, providing high quality diagnostic information and enabling users to better utilize an imaging resource that is affected by the limited availability of the key radiotracer.
 

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