June 27, 2006–Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Penn) is racking up awards for its SOMATOM Definition CT system. The Definition is the world’s first dual source CT imaging system; it incorporates an extra x-ray tube and detector, which helps improve image quality, lowers radiation exposure and speeds up the diagnostic process, minimizing the need for beta blockers, the company claims.
On June 22, Siemens announced the Definition had won best new product honors from the International Business Awards—giving the company its third consecutive “Stevie” award. Siemens was named most innovative company by the IBA in 2005, and in 2004 the company’s president and CEO, Erich Reinhardt, PhD, was named best executive. The IBA is a worldwide, cross-industry business competition.
The Definition also garnered accolades from Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, taking home a Product Innovation Award along with Siemens’ MAGNETOM Espree.
“Siemens has really revolutionized the views on traditional CT and MRI scanning,” said Subha Basu and Sachin Thukral, analysts in Frost & Sullivan’s health care group. “No longer do patients have to trade anxiety for high-resolution imaging.”
Particularly useful for imaging patients who have fast or irregular heartbeats or difficulty holding their breath, the Definition is currently in use at two clinics in Germany, two medical centers in the Netherlands, the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn), and New York University Medical Center.
