New Dual Energy Applications Target Heart, Brain, Lung

The FDA gave Siemens Medical Solutions 510(k) market clearance of four new software applications used with the SOMATOM Definition, aimed at simplifying the diagnosis of diseases of the heart, brain, lungs and extremity joints.

One of the new dual energy applications for the SOMATOM Definition, a dual-source computed tomography (CT) system, is syngo DE Heart PBV (Perfusion Blood Volume), which reportedly provides color-marking of nonperfused parts of the myocardium during cardiology examinations. Moreover, syngo DE Heart PBV is designed to enable the isolated display of the heart, for example, without thorax structures. The heart perfusion is examined primarily after an infarction to determine damaged areas of the organ. DECT is said to detect a stenosis, its degree, location and extent due reduced perfusion.