FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Jan Kepler 303-674-7879
keplerj@netone.com
Patricia Landers Gee 800-367-3569
wendtp@sqi.com
SIEMENS' PATENTED ULTRASOUND APPLICATION OPENS THE DOOR TO SWEEPING DIAGNOSTIC IMAGES
SEATTLE, Wash., November 25, 1996. SieScape imaging -- a breakthrough ultrasound diagnostic application developed by the Ultrasound Group of Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. -- was introduced today. For the first time in more than 40 years of diagnostic use, radiologists can instantly see expansive views of internal organs using high-resolution, real-time ultrasound. These panoramic images display organs and their adjacent anatomy in one image, eliminating the need for physicians to mentally piece together a complete picture of anatomical structures.
What is SieScape imaging?
SieScape imaging is a unique, patented ultrasound imaging application that runs on the world's only programmable high-speed image processor integrated into an ultrasound unit. The programmable image processor was jointly developed by the Ultrasound Group of Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. and the University of Washington Image Computing Systems Laboratory. This technology is offered exclusively on Siemens premium SONOLINE Elegra ultrasound platform.
Siemens Ultrasound Group Vice President Lothar Koob predicts that SONOLINE Elegra with SieScape imaging will make all other ultrasound systems obsolete: "According to reports from radiologists, this new technology is truly groundbreaking. Not only has SieScape imaging dramatically raised the bar on ultrasound technology, it has also introduced a potentially cost-effective alternative to Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in a number of situations."
Koob went on to say that SieScape imaging is the first of many future applications that will emerge from these image processing advances: "With the core technology in place, we can now respond quickly to meet clinical ultrasound needs with new innovative solutions." Siemens anticipates the turnaround time for new ultrasound applications will be reduced from the industry average of approximately 18 months to less than six months.
What are the benefits of SieScape imaging for patients?
One of the goals of SieScape imaging is to provide patients with more efficient and cost-effective care. Clinical studies have shown that by eliminating the need to mentally piece together the complete picture of anatomical structures, examination and interpretation time of the images is reduced. In some cases, the large amount of information instantly provided by the panoramic image eliminates the need for more expensive tests, such as MRI and CT. Clinical evaluators have also said that the large anatomical views provided by SieScape imaging improves communication and understanding between physicians and patients.
What are the benefits and clinical applications of SieScape imaging?
Because ultrasound is now the most widely used scanning technique in medicine and its applications are becoming so varied, most people will have an ultrasound examination at some time in their lives. Clinical trials and case studies using SieScape imaging reveal a number of obstetric, gynecological, abdominal, thyroid, breast, testes, vascular (blood flow), urological (bladder, prostate and kidney), and musculoskeletal applications. It is considered to be a great advantage in evaluating aneurysms, detecting small ligament and tissue damage, and to image and calibrate long sections of blood vessels to locate anatomical landmarks for location of disease.
Response to SieScape imaging has been extremely positive. At a recent lecture on ultrasound imaging, Dr. Eugene McNally, of England's Oxford University, said "as a radiologist, I found SieScape imaging to be a highly effective presentation tool, set to significantly improve the way we present ultrasound images to our clinical colleagues." Dr. Stanton Rosenthal, Professor of Radiology and OB/GYN, and Director of Ultrasound at the University of Kansas Medical Center, has performed clinical evaluations using SONOLINE Elegra with SieScape imaging for more than eight months.
"The panoramic views provided by SieScape imaging allow physicians to much more readily and rapidly -and with greater confidence - determine what is going on with the patient. That is not only true during the time we are scanning the patient, but also is important when reviewing the findings with the referring physician and patient." Ongoing case studies for expanded applications of SieScape imaging are currently being performed at the University of California at San Diego, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, and McMasters University Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. More clinical sites are being added worldwide on a regular basis.
How will Siemens' new ultrasound technology change the ultrasound industry?
According to Joe Ahladis, Siemens Ultrasound vice president of sales and marketing, conventional ultrasound systems utilize dedicated hardware that must be reinvented every time major advancements are developed. Rebuilding or redesigning hardware is time consuming and not at all cost effective for customers or manufacturers.
"The new SONOLINE Elegra was developed as a truly modular platform that incorporates the latest in programmable image processing," explained Ahladis. "The move to software allows rapid and continual advances in imaging techniques and clinical applications -- such as SieScape imaging -- and offers maximum cost and efficiency benefits to our customers." Ahladis went on to say that Siemens has invested more than $300 million in the development of our ultrasound business since 1992. "This figure represents a serious effort by Siemens to develop technology that keeps our systems state-of-the-art while ensuring that our customers' investment in Siemens ultrasound platforms is secure."
Following recent clearance by the Food and Drug Administration, SieScape imaging will be introduced at the 82nd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference, December 1-6 in Chicago.
The Ultrasound Group of Siemens, with world headquarters in Issaquah, near Seattle, Washington, is part of the New Jersey-based Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. is one of the world's leading providers of diagnostic imaging and advanced medical electronics systems and products. The company employs approximately 5,000 in the U.S. and has annual sales of close to $1.4 billion.
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NOTE: Digital photographs of SieScape images are available upon request. SONOLINE is a registered trademark; Elegra and SieScape imaging are trademarks of the Ultrasound Group of Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. To arrange interviews with other physicians, please call 303-674-7879.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Ultrasound Group of Siemens Medical Systems
The Ultrasound Group of Siemens Medical Systems in Issaquah, Wash. is the headquarters location for all of Siemens worldwide ultrasound activities. Siemens has had a presence in medical ultrasound since the 1950s and holds a significant number of patents in the field. Siemens ultrasound systems are used for a variety of applications including radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, urology and cardiology.
The Ultrasound Group consolidated all its ultrasound organizations around the world -- primarily operations in Erlangen, Germany; San Ramon, Calif.; and Issaquah, Wash. -- in 1992 and located the worldwide headquarters in Issaquah, where the former Quantum Medical Systems had been located. The current facility of 135,000 square feet sits on ten acres of land was completed in April 1994.
The workforce of 467 employees is well educated and diverse. More than three-quarters have two-year college degrees and almost 60 percent have a bachelor's degree or higher. Fifty employees are graduates of the University of Washington and hold a total of 76 degrees. In addition to English, 28 different languages are spoken as the first language by members of the employee population.
Siemens Medical Systems
Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. is a leading U.S. developer, manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of technologically advanced medical equipment and systems for use in diagnostic imaging, cardiology, oncology, critical care, surgery, anesthesiology, dentistry and audiology.
The company employs more than 5,000 people in the U.S., and had annual sales approaching $1.4 billion in fiscal year 1995/96. With headquarters in Iselin, N.J., Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. serves as the holding company for all of medical activities for Siemens in the U.S.
The company markets, sells and provides factory-trained service for the most complete line of medical electronic systems available in the U.S., through a nationwide network of professionals at more than 128 locations.
Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. is made up of six major groups, and one subsidiary. Groups of Siemens Medical Systems include:
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