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Siemens Sells 120 MAGNETOM Espree Systems; Increased Patient Throughput, Enhanced Clinical Workflow Among Benefits of First Open Bore MRI

Business Wire, June 22, 2005

MALVERN, Pa. -- Siemens Medical Solutions today announced that it has sold 120 MAGNETOM Espree(TM) systems, the world's first open bore 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with Tim(R) (Total imaging matrix) technology. Introduced in July 2004, the MAGNETOM Espree offers more room than the traditional MRI. With a 125 cm (approximately four feet) system length and 70 cm (nearly 2.3 feet) bore diameter, it offers maximum patient comfort combined with high-field 1.5T diagnostic images. Imaging facilities benefiting from the MAGNETOM Espree's spacious design and superior image quality report increased patient throughput and clinical workflow.

"Imaging facilities are turning to the Espree for its cutting-edge technology and patient-friendly design," said Nancy Gillen, vice president, MRI Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. "At 1.5T, the Espree's high speed and superior image quality gives radiographers the ability to scan more patients faster and to potentially detect and diagnose disease earlier, while its open design provides an unmatched level of comfort to patients."

Turville Bay MRI and Radiation Oncology Center, an independent, not-for-profit, free-standing center in Madison, Wis., owned by St. Mary's Hospital and Meriter Hospital, was the first independent imaging site to install the MAGNETOM Espree in October 2004. Since installation, its patient throughput has nearly quadrupled from roughly 50 to 200 patients per month. This number is expected to increase with 3,000 procedures projected by the end of the year, a sharp contrast to the 639 performed in 2004 on a previous open MRI system.

"With the MAGNETOM Espree, Siemens has created an open bore MRI system that is a true 1.5T," said Phyllis Nelson, executive director, Turville Bay. "Our previous open system was used only in extreme cases due to dissatisfaction with its lower image quality by both radiologists and referring physicians. With the Espree we can scan four times as many patients, and our technologists obtain the same superior image quality they have come to expect from other high-field systems."

The MAGNETOM Espree system is the shortest 1.5T MRI bore available, at 125 cm (approximately four feet), allowing for more than 60 percent of exams to be completed with the patient's head outside of the bore, which eases issues of claustrophobia. With a bore opening of 70 cm (nearly 2.3 feet) in diameter and the average distance between a patient's head and the MRI magnet at almost one foot, the MAGNETOM Espree is the only 1.5T MRI system to also provide enough room for larger patients.

"The Espree is much roomier than traditional MRI systems, making it more comfortable for our patients, especially our larger patients and those with back pain who want to bend their knees during exams," said Nelson. "The head-in, feet-out design lets patients feel more in control, which is extremely important for those suffering from claustrophobia."

The MAGNETOM Espree system provides up to four times more signal-to-noise ratio over traditional open MRI designs, which is desirable in imaging larger patients. In addition, the MAGNETOM Espree can perform advanced clinical applications in less time, because it combines strong gradient performance with Siemens Tim technology. Tim is the first whole body mosaic surface coil design that enables the highest resolution images in a shorter acquisition time. Tim coils are very light, making them easy to position and tolerate when scanning larger patients.

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. 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. Employing approximately 31,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 120 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 7.07 billion EUR, orders of 8.12 billion EUR and group profit of 1.05 billion EUR for fiscal 2004. More information can be obtained by visiting http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.> PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST