Siemens Demonstrates Groundbreaking Approach to Stroke Diagnosis at ASNR 2009

Rapid volume perfusion acquisition, intuitive post-processing and remote
access highlight new CT Neuro Engine for comprehensive workflow efficiency and
patient care

MALVERN, Pa., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- As the third leading cause of death in
the United States, stroke effects approximately 795,000 Americans each year --
with an estimated 610,000 accounting as first-time cases(1). And for a stroke
victim, the first few hours are the defining time when a quick and effective
diagnosis can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent
disability. At the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Neuroradiology in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 16-21, Siemens
Healthcare (booth #207) brings stroke diagnosis to the patient with a
combination of Siemens SOMATOM(R) computed tomography (CT) scanner technology
and CT Neuro Engine, offering a unique and complete solution for all aspects
of neuroradiology.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )

Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United
States(1). The crucial time for any patient is during the first three hours
after the stroke occurred. Information gathered from the CT scan can
efficiently provide the essential data for a proper diagnosis and next steps
for the patient's well being.

"Siemens is proud to offer volume perfusion capabilities on a wide variety of
our scanners," said Kulin Hemani, vice president, Computed Tomography, Siemens
Healthcare. "Adaptive 4D Spiral, the innovative acquisition, which allows
volume perfusion coverage of up to 15 centimeters on SOMATOM Definition Flash,
is currently available, not only on our premium scanners, but across the
entire spectrum of our SOMATOM Definition CT portfolio, bringing the
technology to every patient. Moreover, the 15 centimeter coverage is offered
in the entire field-of-view, unlike other perfusion techniques offered on
large-area detectors where large cone-beam angle impacts the volume that can
be visualized."

3D Stroke Imaging
Whether a fast stroke evaluation or the display of the infarcted and
surrounding area is needed, the CT Neuro Engine makes all the data available
in only seconds. With syngo(R) Expert-I findings can be shared with the
treating physician or a colleague by simply granting them remote access from
any PC in the network. And to speed up clinical workflow, 3D evaluations can
be performed by simply using syngo WebSpace from any PC or laptop where the
Internet can be accessed.

Siemens 3D stroke imaging provides the highest clinical confidence using
SOMATOM CT exquisite image quality. Fully automated 3D syngo Volume Neuro
Perfusion CT tools facilitate quantitative volume evaluation for differential
diagnosis of ischemic stroke and supports simultaneous multislice processing,
as well as the stringent time and workflow requirements in an emergency
setting where time is of the essence. The automated guided workflow provides
quick and reliable assessment of dynamic cerebral perfusion parameters, such
as Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF), Cerebral Blood Volume (CBV), and Time To Peak
(TTP) and Mean Transit Time (MTT).

CT Neuro Engine is designed to answer the key questions that stroke team faces
in diagnosis of ischemic stroke, such as excluding existence of hemorrhage,
understanding of irreversibility of infarcted tissue, and determining portion
of potentially salvageable tissue.

Adaptive 4D Spiral
Siemens Adaptive 4D Spiral technology allows the possibility to adapt the
coverage to virtually any organ size, allowing for full brain perfusion
information, enabling a comprehensive view whole disease in stroke imaging.

Adaptive 4D Spiral capabilities are currently available to more than 300 CT
scanners installed throughout the United States. It is available on SOMATOM
Definition Flash, Definition, and Definition AS scanners, including the newly
introduced, cost effective 20-slice configuration.

With Adaptive 4D Spiral, the Siemens CT scanners are able to address
functional imaging (perfusion images of blood flow over time) specific to the
organ being imaged. This allows Siemens to offer information beyond simple
perfusion and into phase contrast CT. In the case of a stroke, physicians can
use whole-organ perfusion imaging, not only for a small part of the brain, but
for all of it.

Time Is Brain
"Time is brain" -- a time until treatment impacts the level of damage caused
by the stroke. In other words: the faster a stroke is treated, the better the
odds that the patient could have a complete recovery, or, at the most, a mild
disability. With Siemens CT stroke imaging, the stroke team can have the
confidence in the imaging excellence and the speed of the data to make the
best decision for the patient.

(1) http://www.cdc.gov/Stroke/stroke_facts.htm

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the
healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider with
core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic
technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including information
technology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics
acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company,
bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare
information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support
services. Siemens Healthcare delivers solutions across the entire continuum of
care -- from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care.
Additionally, Siemens Healthcare is the global market leader in innovative
hearing instruments. The company employs around 49,000 people worldwide and
operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2008 (Sept. 30), Siemens
Healthcare reported sales of euro 11.2 billion, orders of euro 11.8 billion,
and Sector profit of euro 1.2 billion. Further information can be found by
visiting http://www.siemens.com/healthcare.

SOURCE Siemens Healthcare

Media, Tom Schaffner, +1-610-448-1477, thomas.schaffner@siemens.com, Siemens
Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Healthcare Sector - Imaging & IT Division