December 28, 2010 – The Mammomat Inspiration full-field digital mammography system is now commercially available in the United States. The Mammomat Inspiration offers digital screening and diagnostic mammography, stereotactic biopsy and upgrade capability to future technologies all in one system.
Siemens conducted customer workshops around the world in which radiologists, radiology technologists and physicists contributed details and suggestions on their vision for a next-generation digital mammography system.
Customers said that a next-generation mammography system should facilitate a more pleasant, comfortable patient experience. With its MoodLight LED light panel, the Mammomat Inspiration helps provide a warm environment by illuminating soft, pastel colors that can change dynamically throughout the day or can be set on one color that best matches the environment. The material composition of the paddles also helps provide a warm, smooth feeling for patients during a mammogram.
To match breast density and thickness, the Inspiration offers three anode/filter combinations: Mo/Mo, Mo/Rh and W/Rh. The Opdose feature of the Inspiration automatically selects the appropriate anode/filter combination and the lowest radiation dose for individual breast characteristics. Inspiration’s Opcomp function applies compression only as long as the patient’s breast is soft and pliable – stopping at the point of optimal compression.
For mammography technologists, the Inspiration’s one-click-to-image functionality automatically opens the patient scheduler after an exam is finalized, so that selecting the next patient is the only mouse click needed. With its isocentric rotation, the tube head instantly goes from the cranio-caudal to the mediolateral-oblique position with one touch of a button. The operator interface of the syngo-based acquisition workstation (AWS) includes the generator console, which means less equipment and a smaller footprint. The detector produces a preview image in seconds after X-ray exposure, allowing users to quickly assess the quality of positioning and proceed with the next exam.
In a screening environment, the ability to detect small and low-contrast objects is mandatory. For this reason, Mammomat Inspiration provides an amorphous selenium (aSe) detector, directly converting X-ray energy into an electric charge. With a new AEC algorithm, dose calculation has been further optimized: The system measures and selects exposure parameters based on the individual breast size and composition. This adaptive AEC provides full flexibility in terms of breast positioning.
The new OpView 2 image processing software is specially designed for digital mammography to produce outstanding image quality. New algorithms provide excellent visibility of the breast border, as well as structures in dense tissue.
Siemens’ dedicated acquisition workstation and syngo MammoReport allow breast image viewing from multiple modalities on one screen. Through DICOM and radiology information system (RIS) compatibility, patient data is readily stored in existing clinical archives. With Siemens Remote Service, service time gaps are shortened or downtime can be eliminated. Through constant monitoring, deviating parameters are detected before problems occur.
More than 700 Mammomat Inspiration systems are currently installed outside the United States.
For more information: www.siemens.com/healthcare
April 17, 2024 
