New Technology Developed for Nuclear Medicine Applications

A new single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imager provides new workflow and imaging benefits to users in a cost-effective system.

Siemens Medical Solutions Molecular Imaging Division (Malvern, PA, USA) is addressing the need for cost-efficient molecular imaging. At the 2007 European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) annual congress, held October 13-17, 2007, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Siemens introduced the new Symbia E series single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imager.

The Symbia E is the newest addition to the Symbia family of SPECT and SPECT-CT (computed tomography) imaging systems. It provides users with a high-quality SPECT imager that can lead to improved clinical confidence, effectiveness, and versatility. The new Symbia E is based on the success of Siemens' Symbia family of imagers. Based on Symbia SPECT-CT technology, Symbia E utilizes the strength of their gamma camera, the e.cam. There are more than 4,000 e.cams installed in more than 120 countries, proving the system an industry icon. Siemens has redesigned the e.cam structure with an improved chassis and improved electronics.

The Symbia E has features that will lead to an accelerated workflow. The system is also versatile and it can be upgraded as a facility's workload grows. A new generation of HD detector first introduced with the Symbia TruePoint SPECT-CT imager is also included in the new Symbia E scanner. Using these new detectors, Siemens achieved an 85% reduction in wiring and 75% reduction in components, and with Siemens' own crystal material, the efficiency of this new system is significantly improved. Symbia E also imports the clinically validated c.clear attenuation correction, which was developed on the Siemens c.cam dedicated cardiac scanner.

The system is equipped with Siemens' Remote Services capabilities. The Siemens Remote Services program enables Siemens to check the system status through full remote access and remote diagnostics. This level of proactive monitoring and trending of key performance indicators will allow Siemens to service and update the system before small problems turn into big downtime. The end result is that Symbia E users will experience interruption-free imaging while having the support of a network of nearly 1,000 trained field engineers.

The Symbia E offers features to accelerate the clinical workflow in acquisition, processing, and reviewing with syngo workflow systems such as an integrated physician worklist, and it provides imaging in half the time for cardiology and oncology patients, when using cardio-Flash and onco-Flash reconstruction software packages. Users will realize timesavings from the system's integrated, simultaneous quality control component. With this system, facilities will be able to see a wide range of patients from pediatrics to bariatrics, and can also be equipped with special positioning pallets for mammography. It also sports a tilting detector for optimized planar imaging.


Related Links:
Siemens Medical Solutions Molecular Imaging Division