NEW ORLEANS, LA - Siemens Healthcare (www.siemens.com/healthcare) highlighted innovative solutions in molecular imaging at the 2008 Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) Scientific Sessions in New Orleans this week. Siemens featured its newest technology, HD/PET, as well as new features in SPECT imaging and imaging biomarker developments.

HD/PET - Seeing More, Clearly
Siemens HD/PET is the world's first and only high-definition PET technology to offer consistently sharper and clearly defined images across the entire field of view. The clarity achieved by HD/PET is the result of a unique and proprietary technology that optimizes the elements of image uniformity, resolution and contrast -- that together change the whole picture.


The improved resolution enables physicians to clearly visualize small lesions from the center to the edges of the field of view.

Siemens showcases the experiences of the early adopters of HD/PET technology:
Symbia® E - Simply Evolutionary
Siemens Symbia family of imagers is the highlight of the SNM exhibition, featuring Symbia E showcased for the first time in the United States. Symbia E addresses the needs of the cost-conscious consumer by redefining the quality of cost-efficient molecular imaging. The newest addition to the Symbia family of SPECT and SPECT/CT imaging systems, Symbia E provides users with a high-quality SPECT imager that can lead to improved clinical confidence, reliability and versatility.

"As the leader in molecular imaging innovations, Siemens introduced Symbia E, representing the first product designed to address the post-DRA environment, providing a cost-efficient, yet high-quality solution," said Michael Reitermann, chief executive officer, Molecular Imaging, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. The new Symbia E is based on the success of Siemens Symbia family of imagers, taking Symbia's detector technology and making it available on Symbia E.

A new generation of HD detectors is the key innovation leading to best-in-class performance and reliability. Using these detectors, where Siemens achieved an 85 percent reduction in wiring and a 75 percent reduction in components, the overall reliability of the product is significantly increased. Symbia E is primed to be the newest general imaging SPECT and cardiac SPECT workhorse for customers who require a quick return on their investment; especially important in the post-DRA environment.

Research Breakthroughs in Imaging Biomarkers
While currently the largest distributor of PET radiopharmaceuticals in the U.S. and aggressively expanding internationally into countries and regions, such as India, the United Kingdom, Korea and Australia, Siemens is also making inroads into developing new imaging biomarkers that may be used in the future. Siemens Molecular Imaging Biomarker Research facility in Los Angeles has recently submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a new imaging agent that will help with imaging hypoxic tumors, which may be resistant to standard treatment involving chemotherapy. This type of imaging biomarker may be valuable in managing the treatment options for cancer patients.

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