Siemens Presents Latest Innovations in MRI and SPECT/CT Imaging at ECR 2022

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 12 Jul 2022

Image: NAEOTOM Alpha is the world’s first photon-counting CT (Photo courtesy of Siemens Healthineers)

Siemens Healthineers (Erlangen, Germany) introduced its newly-launched innovations in MRI and SPECT/CT imaging at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2022 held in Vienna on July 13-17.

At ECR 2022, Siemens demonstrated the new Symbia Pro.specta, a single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) system with CE mark and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance that has advanced SPECT and CT imaging technologies. Capabilities include a low-dose CT of up to 64 slices for impressive detail, automatic SPECT motion correction for additional image clarity, and an intuitive and automated workflow to guide the user through the entire decision-making process of the examination. Additionally, Siemens presented its most lightweight, compact whole-body scanner – the FDA-approved MAGNETOM Free.Max MR scanner which is also the first-ever 80cm wide-bore system to aid in MR scanning for obese and claustrophobic people.

Siemens also highlighted the new Naeotom Alpha, the world’s first photon-counting CT scanner which is cleared for clinical use in the US and Europe. Photon-counting technology enables drastic improvements, including an increase in resolution and a reduction in radiation dose by up to 45% for ultra-high resolution (UHR) scans compared with conventional CT detectors with a UHR comb filter. This opens up new capabilities, such as scanning a patient’s lung at a high scan speed and getting high-resolution images with inherent spectral information – without the patient having to hold their breath. This spectral information also helps to identify materials inside the body that can even be removed from the image should they obstruct an area of interest.

Among the several key initiatives from the continued collaboration between Siemens and the European Society of Radiology, the company exclusively supported a special giveaway of the ESR Premium Education Package. The giveaway awarded 25 lucky applicants a subscription to the 2022 Premium Education Package – a valuable tool for further education in medical imaging. In line with the ESR’s strategy to provide education to areas with more limited educational opportunities, the giveaway was open to radiologists from Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. With the Premium Education Package, the winners of the giveaway gained full access to premium services on Eurorad and Education on Demand, as well as access to all both live and on-demand events on ESR Connect.

“We highly appreciate joining forces with Siemens Healthineers to work on a variety of initiatives,” stated ESR President Prof. Regina Beets-Tan. “Collaboration with industry partners, in particular our Platinum Supporting Members, is a key part of the ESR’s strategy to build bridges between all stakeholders in healthcare – be they radiologists and clinicians, or patients and medical imaging companies. I hope that the winners of the giveaway enjoy the extensive educational content offered by the Premium Education Package.”

“Training and education are key in leveraging the full potential of innovations, especially in underserved and further developed areas, where access to care is still not granted. Therefore, this partnership is more than just a sponsorship,” added Bernd Ohnesorge, President Europe, Middle East and Africa at Siemens Healthineers. “We support the winners from these areas and elsewhere to receive the highest quality education possible, so they can improve healthcare in their countries. At the same time, close collaboration with the ESR and its members is key for us as one of the industry leaders. We get valuable insights into daily clinical practice and can thus constantly evaluate and improve everything we do. We therefore are happy to constantly learn ourselves and support the lucky winners at doing the same.”

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