NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2005 - Siemens Medical Solutions has unveiled the world's first dual source computed tomography (CT) system, a breakthrough that may redefine the role of CT. Siemens has pushed the technical and clinical boundaries of CT with this latest innovation, the SOMATOM Definition, which is faster than every beating heart and capable of imaging full cardiac detail with as much as 50 percent less radiation exposure compared to traditional CT scans.

Setting new standards in cardiac diagnosis, the SOMATOM Definition will image patients with high or irregular heart rates, or even arrhythmia, without beta blocker medications that have been previously needed to slow a patient's heart. The system also enables physicians to better identify and characterize plaque, an early indicator of heart disease.

Siemens' newest CT innovation is an ideal tool for one-stop diagnosis in acute care imaging, including the assessment of patients with acute chest pain, abdominal pain, and suspicion of stroke. The system enables faster and earlier diagnosis in acute care patients while maintaining the highest image quality, independent of patient size and condition.
The SOMATOM Definition has enhanced capabilities not previously available from any type of diagnostic imaging technology, which are expected to lead to new breakthroughs in clinical research. These capabilities include scanning with two different X-ray energies simultaneously, which allow physicians to better differentiate, characterize, isolate and distinguish bone, soft tissue and fluid.

"Siemens has long been committed to creating products that will shape the future of healthcare. With today's announcement, we are truly redefining what CT can do and are setting a new benchmark for the industry to follow," said Erich Reinhardt, president and chief executive officer, Siemens Medical Solutions. "With more than 55 million procedures conducted in the United States each year, CT already has a tremendous impact on detecting disease. The Siemens SOMATOM Definition will allow physicians to utilize CT technology in new areas of research, bring the benefits of CT to more patients, and enable physicians to diagnose disease earlier and more cost effectively."

The SOMATOM Definition is faster than any existing CT technology. This dual source CT system uses two X-ray sources and two detectors at the same time, compared to all other CT systems that use only one source and detector. With 0.33 seconds per rotation, electrocardiogram- (ECG) synchronized imaging can be performed with 83-millisecond temporal resolution, independent of the heart rate, resulting in motion-free cardiac images.

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