Next-Generation PET/CT Scanner with Industry’s Fastest TOF Delivers High-Resolution Imaging

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 04 Jul 2023

A revolutionary positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanner is setting industry records with its unmatched time of flight (TOF), enhancing lesion detection and anatomical detail. This state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner also incorporates digital detectors with proprietary lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals, enabling high-resolution imaging.

Siemens Healthineers’ (Erlangen, Germany) new Biograph Vision.X PET/CT scanner builds on the established success of the Biograph Vision, delivering a TOF of 178 picoseconds (ps)—the fastest TOF in the industry. The Biograph Vision.X's Optiso Ultra Dynamic Range (UDR) detector technology relies on silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), facilitating the use of compact 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm LSO crystal elements, which yield higher spatial resolution than their larger counterparts. With these exceptionally small LSO crystals fully covered by SiPMs, the scanner provides a high volumetric resolution of 48-mm³ and an industry-leading temporal resolution of 178 ps. These advantages enable the Biograph Vision.X to achieve a performance improvement (TOF gain) of 20%, potentially leading to enhanced patient throughput, reduced patient radiation exposure, and lower radiotracer costs.


Image: The Biograph Vision.X PET/CT Scanner has the industry-best time of flight of 178 ps (Photo courtesy of Siemens)

The Biograph Vision.X's AIDAN intelligent imaging platform harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to boost operational efficiency and streamline patient workflow, thereby aiding in precise diagnosis. AIDAN utilizes a unique methodology grounded in over 700 machine- and deep-learning patents from Siemens, the pioneer in bringing AI-powered applications to PET/CT scanners. With its spacious 78-cm bore, the Biograph Vision.X can alleviate patient anxiety and facilitate easier positioning for radiotherapy devices or bariatric patients. The scanner can conveniently fit into any room accommodating a PET/CT scanner from the Biograph Vision family. Furthermore, the Biograph Vision.X will be available as an in-field upgrade to current users of the Biograph Vision, providing them an opportunity to enhance the performance of their existing system.

“The Biograph Vision.X PET/CT scanner builds on the strong foundation of our Biograph Vision system and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to being the industry leader in time of flight for improved lesion detection and increased anatomical detail,” said James Williams, PhD, head of Siemens Healthineers Molecular Imaging. “This TOF improvement translates into true increased sensitivity for better imaging performance. This level of precision is more important than ever, as more physicians now use PET/CT imaging not only for diagnosis but throughout the patient care cycle—from diagnosis to therapy monitoring to post-therapy follow-up. And such precision in PET/CT is invaluable in theranostics, where diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities are combined to help treat post-recurrent prostate cancer patients.”

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