Software Provides “Anatomic Intelligence” in Diagnostic Reading Applications

A three-dimensional (3D) diagnostic reading solution features new applications and functionalities with software that “understands” human anatomy.

Siemens Healthcare’s (Erlangen, Germany) version VA30 of its routine 3D diagnostic reading software offers the syngo.via General Engine, a new package of highly automated and standardized applications. Anatomic range presets, for example, identifies individual regions of the body on images captured using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), aligns the image projections accordingly, then selects detailed views to facilitate case preparation, for greater efficiency and enabling higher diagnostic effectiveness.

Siemens is making syngo.via more anatomically intelligent to support radiologists and medical technology personnel in their routine workflows. The software “understands” human anatomy and prepares the images for diagnostic reading. Syngo.via VA30 features automatic rib labeling, for example, which automatically identifies and labels the ribs in CT scans. Until now, radiologists had to identify the ribs manually. Given the unique shape of the ribs, this can be time-consuming and lead to errors, particularly in complicated diagnostic setting such as oncology.

Anatomic intelligence is also part of the new syngo.via General Engine software package with which customers can upgrade their software. The package includes the anatomic range presets feature, which displays a rapid, precise, optimal view of selected anatomic regions. To facilitate diagnoses, users often create such views manually, performing the multistep process of selecting the relevant area, aligning the image projections accordingly, and editing the detailed view. This takes time, requires anatomic expertise, and is error-prone. The new application from Siemens largely automates these steps, providing a consistent quality of the resulting anatomic views and images that does not depend on the skill of the specific user. Using a technology similar to facial recognition in digital photography, syngo.via is able to recognize spines, shoulders, and hips, in clinical images and optimize how they are displayed in their anatomical environment. The presets are initially available for specific anatomic regions in CT and MRI images.

The radiologic diagnostic report, following an examination, plays a key role in the treatment of the patient. The syngo.via Advanced Reporting tool, part of the syngo.via General Engine, helps radiologists create clear, well-structured reports for the referring or follow-up physicians. Standardized templates make it easier to create reports but these can still be customized to individual needs, and findings from multiple examinations can be consolidated into a single report. In the past, multiple diagnoses meant having different documents relating to a single case. Now, the diagnostic report reflects the patient’s entire disease profile. This makes it much easier for doctors to form a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s condition, which helps to improve the quality of treatment.

Syngo.via can be used as a standalone device or together with a range of syngo.via-based software options. The syngo.via General Engine is part of the medical device syngo.via. Rib labeling is not yet available in the United States.

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