Siemens Healthcare recently received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for syngo Aortic ValveGuide, an integrated image processing software that helps cardiologists and cardiac surgeons prepare and perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The syngo Aortic ValveGuide automatically reconstructs a 3-D representation of the aortic root from cross-sectional images acquired with the angiography system and provides the best projection angle for the valve replacement. The software selects anatomical landmarks and overlays the 3-D image with 2-D images acquired during live fluoroscopy, enabling the physician to obtain real-time 3-D guidance in the patient’s body while navigating the new valve to its intended location. This groundbreaking software, which is now available to customers, reflects the spirit of Siemens Healthcare’s Agenda 2013 — a recently announced two-year initiative designed in part to strengthen the Healthcare Sector's innovative power and competitiveness.

The lifetime risks of cancer from medical radiation may be overemphasized relative to more immediate health risks, according to a new clinical study published online in the journal Radiology.