Siemens Healthineers has garnered U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the latest version of its Somatom Force dual-source CT scanner.
The vendor said its flagship device now features its Fully Assisting Scanner Technologies (FAST) integrated workflow technology. Its new FAST 3D camera fits above the patient table and employs artificial intelligence and deep learning to provide automatic positioning of patients, according to the vendor. Staff can use touch panels on the gantry to utilize this automation capability.
The new version also includes the firm's iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) technique, which enables users to reduce image artifacts caused by metal implants, artificial joints, or pacemakers, Siemens said. The company has also upgraded Somatom Force's image reconstruction system, which can now reconstruct up to 70 images per second with iterative reconstruction.
Siemens also noted that the new FAST integrated workflow with the FAST 3D camera will be available with its Somatom Drive dual-source CT scanner.
