ACUSON X300 Ultrasound System, Premium Edition with Complete Cardiac Imaging Performance and Portable ACUSON P50 Notebook Echocardiography System; Latest Patient Outcomes of syngo Velocity Vector Imaging Technology Published CHICAGO, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Healthcare (http://www.siemens.com/healthcare) demonstrates its latest ultrasound enhancements to the cardiology suite (booth #3006) at the 57th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) from March 29 through April 1 in Chicago. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080401/NYTU065 ) The new release of the ACUSON X300(TM) ultrasound system, Premium Edition offers a complete cardiology toolset in one compact, easy-to-use package, including advanced capabilities for comprehensive cardiac assessment, such as syngo(R) Velocity Vector Imaging(TM) (VVI) technology for detailed assessment of myocardial motion and mechanics. Originally introduced on Siemens' top-of- the-line ACUSON Sequoia(TM) echocardiography system, this advanced application will also be featured in two original research presentations presented at this year's conference. Using Siemens' syngo VVI technology, Dr. Scott D. Solomon, director of non-interventional cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, and colleagues will present the results of studies from syngo VVI-based analyses on echocardiographic data obtained in the VALIANT trial, a 14,700-patient clinical trial, studying high-risk myocardial infarction patients, to assess the incremental value of myocardial strain and strain rate measurements on clinical outcomes compared with standard Left Ventricle (LV) assessment measurements. "Siemens provided us with open access to the syngo VVI software for the study, which allowed us to apply this technology to studies performed in over 100 clinical sites in 14 countries worldwide with images from different vendors," said Dr. Solomon. In a second set of analyses also being presented at the ACC, the researchers used the open syngo VVI software to assess ventricular synchrony in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, heart failure (HF), or both, following myocardial infarction (MI). Advanced Technologies for Every Need In addition to syngo VVI, the ACUSON X300 system, Premium Edition also features syngo Auto Left Heart for expert-like measurements of ejection fraction and volumes of the left ventricle and atrium, as well as other comprehensive cardiac applications, such as Left Ventricular Opacification (LVO), intracardiac procedures with the ACUSON AcuNav(TM) ultrasound catheter, and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for the evaluation of heart valves and chambers. Portable and powerful solutions for fast and flexible clinical workflow and improved diagnostic confidence, combined with the communication and productivity benefits of a Microsoft Windows(R) application, are on top of the wish list of busy clinicians. The recently introduced ACUSON P50(TM) ultrasound system, a portable echocardiography system, is the go-anywhere ultrasound system that features all of these characteristics in one sleek, elegant, high-end Apple MacBook Pro notebook. With less than 12 pounds, the system was designed for mobile use in cardiac and vascular imaging and supports high-quality imaging, such as 2D/B-mode, fundamental and harmonic, anatomical M-mode, color Doppler, and Doppler tissue imaging. The system operates on a standard Windows laptop for ease-of-use and PC-related productivity benefits. Other ultrasound technologies featured at the Siemens booth include the ACUSON P10(TM) ultrasound system, a portable and pocket system. A little larger than a common PDA, the system weighs only 1.6 pounds, and fits easily into a lab coat pocket. It is intended for complementary initial diagnostic care and triage, particularly in cardiology, emergency care and obstetrics. The system can be used by physicians and medical personnel in a number of environments including cardiac and intensive care units, ambulances and medevac helicopters. It can also be used to detect conditions that may be clinically significant, but have previously required expansive or invasive diagnostic testing in asymptomatic patients. About Siemens Healthcare Siemens Healthcare is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first fully integrated diagnostics company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care - from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. The company employs more than 48,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2007 (Sept. 30), Siemens Healthcare reported sales of (euro) 9.85 billion, orders of (euro) 10.27 billion, and group profit of (euro) 1.32 billion. Further information can be found by visiting http://www.siemens.com/healthcare. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080401/NYTU065 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Siemens Healthcare CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Siemens AG, 80312 Munich; Tom Schaffner of Siemens Healthcare, +1-610-448-1477, Web site: http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical http://www.siemens.com/healthcare

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