Siemens Tim Technology Powers New Advances in MRI That Drive Workflow

Chicago, Nov 27, 2006

Continuing to build upon its breakthrough Tim® (Total imaging matrix) technology, Siemens Medical Solutions is heralding the next era in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the introduction of its new generation of Tim systems that advance clinical and workflow capabilities at and beyond the scanner. Siemens will showcase its new T-class and I-class MAGNETOM imaging systems and other MRI innovations at the 92nd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1 (booth #4129) in Chicago.

Installed at more than 1,300 facilities, Tim technology eliminates the need for patient repositioning and manual coil changes during scans while significantly enhancing image quality, providing a solid foundation that continues to yield innovative new applications.

Continuous Table Move Scanning with syngo TimCT

The latest technology advancement powered by Tim is syngo TimCT, which offers Continuous Table Move for scanning comparable to computed tomography (CT) and is now available with Siemens T-class systems for the MAGNETOM Trio®, MAGNETOM Avanto® and MAGNETOM EspreeTM. This revolutionary technology allows physicians to acquire one complete planning scan, or peripheral angiography, in a single, continuous move. With syngo TimCT, the table is not required to stay in a fixed position to acquire images.

Instead the table moves continuously as it does during a CT scan, while Tim enables the signal to be acquired simultaneously. The results are faster scans, increased image quality and the potential for new application capabilities. syngo TimCT is currently being installed at UCLA, the first facility in the U.S. to receive this technology.

“I am excited about testing the syngo TimCT technology and look forward to working on it,” said J. Paul Finn, M.D., chief of diagnostic cardiovascular imaging and professor of radiological sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Improving Workflow Beyond the MRI Scanner with T-class

The new T-class generation Tim systems enable shorter order-to-report turnaround time and support a seamless workflow throughout the entire radiology process, streamlining ordering, planning, processing and distribution. Tim Workflow Suite enables more efficient planning and automatic real-time composing, filtering and processing. T-class also helps improve workflow beyond the scanner with the new syngo Chorus MR, which integrates the MRI scanner into Radiology Information Systems (RIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), from data retrieval through distribution and billing. syngo Chorus MR also provides protocols planning and standardization of protocols across multiple scanners directly from the RIS.

“syngo TimCT and the sophisticated workflow capabilities of the T-class systems have the potential to transform MRI in the same way spiral CT did for CT,” said Nancy Gillen, vice president, MRI Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. “The new generation of Siemens Tim systems further exemplifies the potential of Tim technology, as it continues to spur new innovations that are setting the trend in MRI and meeting the clinical and workflow needs of healthcare facilities and the patients they serve.”

Introducing I-class for Tim Systems

In addition to the T-class, Tim systems - the MAGNETOM Trio, MAGNETOM Avanto and MAGNETOM Espree - are also available in the new I-class generation that hosts advanced applications, including:


* syngo TWIST, which enables 4D MR Angiography (MRA), obtaining arterial and venous phases in one scan and providing robust bilateral MRA, even in cases of a severe stenosis.

* syngo BLADE, which provides robust imaging in neurological, orthopedic and abdominal procedures, correcting for motion artifacts in all body regions, even in cases of severe movement.

* syngo GRACE, which enables breast single voxel spectroscopy, offering user-defined water or lipid signal suppression. The application enables physicians to better distinguish between malignant and benign tissue, as well as monitor therapeutic results in follow-up studies.

* syngo DTI Tractography, which enables 3D visualization of white matter tracts in the brain for improved neurosurgical planning, based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) up to 256 directions.

* syngo Expert-i, which gives physicians and experts the ability to remotely access the MRI suite from virtually anywhere within the enterprise network, making it possible to address difficult clinical questions via a networked computer while a patient is being scanned.

* AutoAlign Spine, which allows MR technologists to positiondouble-oblique slices along spinal disks with one click.

* PhoenixZIP, which quickly retrieves the entire protocol information in one easy drag-and-drop step, enabling reproducible follow-up examinations.

New MAGNETOM Symphony Power-class

The new Power-class adds innovative Siemens applications to the high-powered, lower-cost MAGNETOM Symphony(R) system to help physicians diagnose the most challenging diseases quickly and with more confidence. The Symphony Power-class features a wide range of capabilities, from routine applications to high-end applications such as functional MRI. The Power-class supports syngo BLADE and the following applications:


* syngo SWI (Susceptibility Weighted Imaging) is a technique that reveals blood products and venous structures with great clarity in minutes. This allows for better depiction of bleeding in stroke and brain trauma patients, visualization of contusions and shearing injuries, and identification of minute intracranial vascular malformations.

* syngo VIEWS, which enables 3D bilateral breast imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution, providing excellent care to breast cancer patients.

* New composing tools for MRA that allow measurement on composed images (including angle and distance).

MAGNETOM Trio with Tim Reaches 150 Installations

On the floor of RSNA, Siemens is showcasing the MAGNETOM Trio, the first system capable of 3Tesla (3T) whole-body MRI with Tim technology, which is now installed at 150 facilities worldwide. Suited for clinical and research MRI of all organs and all body regions, the MAGNETOM Trio opens new doors to applications in abdominal, cardiac, spine, whole-body and orthopedic MRI at 3T. With up to 32 receiver channels and Parallel Acquisition Technique (PAT) factors of up to 16, MAGNETOM Trio provides images fast image acquisition.

About Tim Technology

Siemens Tim technology, which is available with the MAGNETOM Trio, MAGNETOM Avanto and MAGNETOM Espree, is the first seamless, whole body surface coil design that combines up to 102 seamlessly integrated coil elements with up to 32 independent radiofrequency (RF) channels, enabling advanced clinical applications. Tim technology enables flexible coil combinations to encompass local high resolution imaging to large anatomical coverage up to 205 centimeters (81 inches). Other systems require the radiologist to change coils and reposition the patient three times for a whole central nervous system or whole-body MRI procedure. Tim also enables the use of integrated Parallel Acquisition Techniques (iPAT) in all body regions, reducing examination times. As a result, image quality is increased by up to 100 percent higher signal-to-noise ratio and acquisition times are shortened.

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 - mark a significant milestone for Siemens as it becomes the first full service diagnostics company. Employing approximately 36,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 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 (preliminary figures). Further information can be found by visiting www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

Contact Information

Amanda Naiman

Public Relations Manager

Siemens AG

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