Siemens 2009 Annual Report Download - page 18

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A revolution in CT imaging
Our SOMATOM Definition Flash is an
innovative CT scanner that is setting
new industry-wide standards for
speed and dose reduction: it requires
only a fraction of the radiation dose
used by previous systems to scan even
the tiniest anatomical details faster
than ever before. For example, the
unit can generate an image of the en-
tire heart in about a quarter of a sec-
ond – less than half a heartbeat.
The SOMATOM Definition Flash fea-
tures new dual-source CT technology,
in which two X-ray tubes revolve
around the patient’s body simulta-
neously. The fastest scanning speed
ever achieved in computed tomogra-
phy – up to  centimeters per second
– and a temporal resolution of  mil-
liseconds enable complete scans of
the entire chest region, for example, in
just . seconds. As a result, patients
no longer need to hold their breath
during the examination. What’s more,
the SOMATOM Definition Flash oper-
ates with a dramatically reduced dose
of radiation. For example, a heart scan
can be performed with less than one
millisievert (mSv), while the average
effective dose required for this pur-
pose is usually as high as  mSv.
Molecular imaging meets CT
Our Biograph Molecular CT (mCT)
scanner is the first system to combine
the capabilities of an advanced CT
scanner with those of a high-resolu-
tion positron emission tomography
(PET) system. With conventional PET-
CT devices, the CT component can
perform only a limited range of CT
scans. In launching the Biograph mCT,
we’ve rung in the era of “molecular
computed tomography.” On the one
hand, the unit is a CT system that of-
fers molecular imaging; on the other,
it’s a PET system into which the exten-
sive options provided by computed
tomography have been integrated.
Particularly at a time when health-
care budgets are shrinking, the new
system is ideally suited to performing
not only high-quality CT scans, but
also PET-CT scans – and to doing so
economically. The device also pro-
motes close cooperation between the
diagnostic disciplines of traditional ra-
diology and molecular imaging.
Improved early detection
We’ve launched Europe’s first multi-
functional ultrasound breast scanner
that automatically records the volume
of the female breast: the Acuson
S Automated Breast Volume
Scanner (ABVS). Featuring a user-inde-
pendent, standardized imaging pro-
cess, the system is also suitable for
early detection of breast cancer via ul-
trasound. This application is particu-
larly important in the case of patients
with dense breast tissue because – ac-
cording to reports in the New England
Journal of Medicine – dense breast tis-
sue makes a woman five times more
likely to contract breast cancer. While
conventional mammography will re-
main the first-choice scanning method
for early detection of breast cancer, a
study conducted by the Radiological
Society of North America shows that
the detection rate for impalpable
inva-
sive breast cancer increases by  per-
cent
if the mammogram is combined
with an ultrasound scan.
The Acuson S enables physi-
cians to reach a more reliable diagno-
sis than was possible with earlier
methods. In addition, scans can now
be performed more quickly, and the
results are available immediately.
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2 Introduction 10 Our world 36 Our company
 Our answers to the toughest
questions of our time
12 Demographic change and healthcare 18 Urbanization and sustainable development