VIENNA - Big iron might have made medical imaging what it is today, but software is its future. The trend was clear in Siemens Medical Solutions’ European Congress of Radiology booth, where the German company highlighted the ability of its Syngo workstation software to improve efficiency in radiology departments.
Siemens introduced Syngo at the 1999 RSNA meeting as a common software platform for the vendor’s modality workstations. Syngo is based on the Windows 2000 operating system, and serves as the core foundation for specialized applications that have been developed for each modality.
Siemens customers with Syngo-based workstations enjoy workflow benefits because each computer has a similar user interface, regardless of the modality, according to the company. This can reduce training costs and makes interface efforts less difficult.
To demonstrate Syngo, Siemens walked customers through a demonstration designed to simulate a PACS/RIS environment. Customers first had their demographic data entered into a database, and then a photograph of the person was taken with a digital camera. The photos and information were then made available throughout the Siemens booth.
All of Siemens’ workstations, with the exception of PACS and nuclear medicine, are currently based on Syngo, according to the company. Siemens is emphasizing 3-D post-processing as it expands Syngo’s functionality -- the company is adding support for complex 3-D tasks, like volume rendering, that previously have required dedicated workstations.
Syngo will also provide the means for Siemens workstations to connect to other information systems, such as the IS products Siemens acquired when it purchased Shared Medical Systems last year.
In other Siemens news, the company for the first time exhibited in a joint booth with Acuson, the California-based ultrasound vendor Siemens bought in November. Siemens has consolidated Acuson with its ultrasound operations in Issaquah, WA, with the combined group under the direction of Siemens veteran John Pavlidis. Siemens will maintain operations in both Washington and California.
Other Siemens highlights include Siremobil Iso-C 3D, a new surgical C-arm with expanded 3-D capabilities, and the Biograph combo PET/CT scanner. On the corporate front, Siemens Medical Engineering has changed its name to Siemens Medical Solutions to reflect the company’s increased emphasis on information technology.
By Brian Casey
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
March 5, 2001
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