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(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )
The Inveon is a modular system that allows users to combine positronemission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)and computed tomography (CT) acquisition systems in one unit. The system alsodelivers the industry's highest PET resolution and sensitivity and it boasts asuite of research tools that improve the workflow of basic research. Thesetools can help speed the drug development process as they enable researchersto identify specific biological processes, monitor the efficacy of compounds,and measure the effects of disease progression over time.
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Thirty Installed Systems
Siemens will install the 30th Inveon preclinical imaging system at TheMethodist Hospital in Houston. The collaboration between Siemens and TheMethodist Hospital was well-timed as Radiology Department Chairman, King Li,MD, FRCP, MBA, has led the department on a major commitment to establishresearch as an institutional priority. As such, The Methodist Hospital isexperiencing a period of unprecedented growth and it has created The MethodistHospital Research Institute (TMHRI) to advance these efforts.
"This transition necessitates the development of a strong academicradiology department that will provide core imaging research, especiallymolecular imaging support, to TMHRI investigators," said Dr. Li. "Anupgradeable platform like the Inveon is a perfect system to suit our needstoday and we anticipate that it will be able to meet our needs for years tocome."
According to Dr. Li, the success of his team's research efforts iscontingent upon their ability to translate their findings into clinicalapplications that will improve patient care. Their success also hinges ontheir ability to conduct clinical trials to validate their hypotheses. TheInveon will play a critical support role in their publications on cancer,cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, metabolic disease and infectiousdisease.
"With 30 installed systems we are seeing tremendous enthusiasm forpreclinical imaging," said Michael Reitermann, president, Siemens MedicalSolutions, Molecular Imaging Division. "The Inveon is being shipped in largequantities and we consider that a testament to the improvements that oursystem brings to research workflow. High-quality imaging will always be one ofthe best ways to prove the effectiveness of new therapies and to illustratethe mechanisms of many diseases."
Upcoming Trade Show Activity
Siemens Medical Solutions is highlighting the Inveon at the JointMolecular Imaging Conference, from Sept. 8-11 in Providence, R.I. Siemens willdemonstrate its other clinical image acquisition products at the show. Thesesystems were recently enhanced with the introduction of HD*PET, which addshigh-definition imaging to the Biograph(TM) TruePoint(TM) family of hybridPET*CT systems. The technology provides a unique, uniform resolutionthroughout the entire field of view. HD*PET eliminates the effect whereby theimage loses resolution further out from the center of the field of view. Thisincreased diagnostic accuracy can help physicians better detect peripherallesions. This improved 2 mm resolution enables physicians to clearly visualizethe smallest of lesions from the center to the edges of the field of view - abenefit unique to Siemens.
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