Mountain View, Calif. - Siemens Healthcare is now shipping its syngo® US Workplace, Release 3.5, an intuitive, off-the-system workstation solution that delivers advanced applications for improved clinical workflow and patient care. The release offers comprehensive capabilities for cardiology, general imaging, OB/GYN, and vascular screening, including the syngo Arterial Health Package (AHP) for semi-automated carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements.

The syngo US Workplace 3.5 is an intuitive image management platform that supports instant and open access to DICOM-compliant images produced by select Siemens and other vendor ultrasound systems. This platform provides streamlined workflow and improved productivity for the clinical routine throughout the ultrasound lab or imaging department. While ultrasound images are acquired at the patient's bedside, physicians can analyze images and complete reports anytime, anywhere through a standard PC network connection.

Enhanced Cardiovascular Assessment
The syngo US Workplace, release 3.5 features the syngo Arterial Health Package (AHP), a tool that provides cardiovascular ultrasound specialists with the capability to measure carotid intima-media thickness.

"CIMT allows the assessment of a patient's cardiovascular system," said Scott Ashworth, vice president, Worldwide Sales and Service, Ultrasound, Siemens Healthcare. "Pathological studies have shown that the atherosclerotic burden in the carotid and coronary arteries are quite similar." The CIMT value is compared to normative values from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) database which have been validated and published in peer-reviewed studies.

syngo AHP builds on knowledge-based workflow to significantly enhance consistency and reliability of results and provide a calculation of a patient's vascular age with individualized results. The semi-automated measurements reduce tedious, manual measurements, allowing the exam to be performed in just 15 to 20 minutes. Moreover, physicians are provided with an intuitive, easy-to-understand tool for better communicating a patient's state of their cardiovascular health.

Clinical Versatility
The syngo US workplace also features other advanced applications, including syngo Velocity Vector Imaging™ (VVI), which allows clinicians to examine mechanical myocardial functions to determine possible dyssynchrony and fetal heart dysfunction. The syngo fourSight View Tool allows the visualization of 3D volumes, including Amnioscopic Rendering for photorealistic images of the unborn baby.

Customers can sign up for a free syngo US Workplace software trial DVD that lets them use the tool at no cost for the duration of 30-use days. Registration for the free trial offer:

-For international customers at:www.siemens.com/syngouswp
-For customers from the U.S. at:www.usa.siemens.com/syngouswp

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens is the only company to offer customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source - from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 49,000 employees worldwide and operates in over 130 countries. In fiscal year 2008 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 11.2 billion euros and profit of 1.2 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.