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Siemens Simplifies Cardiac MRI with syngo BEAT; Single Tool Allows Physicians to Perform More Than 80 Percent of Cardiac Imaging Exams

Business Wire, Nov 14, 2005

DALLAS -- Providing a single tool to simplify cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, Siemens Medical Solutions introduces syngo(R) BEAT at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Dallas from Nov. 13 through 16, 2005 (booth # 507). Available with the Tim(R) (Total imaging matrix) technology application suite, syngo BEAT combines the best of cardiac MRI - morphology, function, tissue characterization and 3D coronary anatomy - in one simple tool. This enables cardiologists to detect and diagnose cardiovascular disease earlier and offer more treatment options, thus increasing positive clinical outcomes.

syngo BEAT defies the stigma that cardiac MRI is complicated, time consuming, and only used by experts and research centers. This single tool combines everything needed to diagnose cardiac disease, allowing professionals to change parameters with a click of the mouse - from 2D to 3D, breath-hold to free-breathing, and morphology to functional or tissue characterization. These features allow syngo BEAT to adapt to bariatric and pediatric patients, as well as to those who have arrhythmia or shortness of breath, or who are difficult to manage, increasing patient comfort and confidence. Doctors can now use syngo BEAT on more than 80 percent of their cardiac referrals.

"With all the innovations in imaging technology, cardiac MRI today is still seen as a complicated examination that requires a variety of techniques to effectively detect, diagnosis and treat cardiac disease states," said Nancy Gillen, vice president, MRI Division, Siemens Medical Solutions. "syngo BEAT provides one easy tool to simplify the process, allowing clinicians to change the types of exams and adopt the exam to the individual patient with a click of the mouse."

Siemens' Tim technology and iPAT (integrated Parallel Acquisition Techniques) enables syngo BEAT to provide high resolution acquisitions at high speed for both cardiac and vascular exams, with most completed within 10 to 30 minutes. This also extends cardiac MRI, such as cardiac function, whole heart coronary tree and cardiac morphology, into the realm of 3D. syngo BEAT can be used in precise therapy planning for electrophysiology ablation planning with syngo InSPACE, providing high resolution data in 3D without the use of contrast agents.

Tim is the first seamless, whole-body matrix surface coil design that combines up to 102 seamlessly integrated coil elements with up to 32 radio frequency (RF) channels, opening the door to the most advanced clinical applications available today. Tim technology enables flexible coil combinations to encompass local high resolution imaging to large anatomical coverage up to 205 cm (6'9"), while other systems require the radiologist to change coils and reposition the patient three times for a whole-body MRI procedure. As a result, image quality is increased by up to 100 percent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and acquisition times are shortened.

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 7.6 billion EUR, orders of 8.6 billion EUR and group profit of 976 million EUR for fiscal 2005. More information can be obtained by visiting http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.> PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST