September 3, 2007
New technologies set to revolutionise medical imaging
Patients with health complaints ranging from cardiac and vascular abnormalities to breast lumps could potentially avoid invasive diagnostic procedures, such as biopsies, and delays for test results thanks to two medical imaging technologies unveiled by Federal Health Minister, Tony Abbott, today.
Mr Abbott officially launched the two world leading Siemens systems at Lake Imaging's Geelong East Court Clinic - the Siemens Somoton Definition CT and the Acuson Antares - which are a first for Victoria and among the first in Australia.
Lake Imaging Managing Partner, Craig Lightfoot, said Lake Imaging's multi-million dollar investment in the technology could revolutionise the speed and methods doctors use to diagnose medical problems.
"The Siemens Somoton Definition CT scanning technology can provide faster and more accurate images so doctors can improve the way they diagnose problems ranging from broken bones and kidney stones through to aneurysms and cardiac issues without conducting invasive procedures," Mr Lightfoot said.
"For example, we will be able to utilise the technology's dual x-ray sources to quickly and more effectively diagnose heart conditions, non-invasively within minutes rather than hours while avoiding the need to administer medication to slow the heart for imaging and reducing radiation exposure by 50 percent compared with traditional CT scans.
"This technology also means that for the first time the estimated 30 percent of Australians who were previously unable to have either invasive or non-invasive cardiac imaging can now benefit from a simple and quick CT scan.
"This new Siemens CT is a quantum leap in imaging technology in so many ways. It has moved us from muti-slice imaging to dual source imaging and also delivers us the potential to use CT for a new range of medical applications through its dual energy functionality.
"Our initial response to this technology is that it could remove the need for more expensive tests such as MRIs."
Mr Lightfoot said the Acuson Antares technology - which is located at Lake Imaging's Ballarat clinic - would also deliver important patient benefits by including the Elastography technique to ultrasound, potentially enabling doctors to differentiate breast cancer from benign breast lumps without the need for a biopsy.
"The potential of this technology was recently highlighted by a small study which correctly identified
Mr Lightfoot said the investment continued Lake Imaging's philosophy of having the most technologically advanced solutions to enhance medical imaging.
"We are proud that Lake Imaging's significant investment in Siemens imaging technologies will improve healthcare in Victoria - particularly in regional areas - by providing access to some of the most innovative medical imaging technologies in the world," Mr Lightfoot said.
Siemens Australia & New Zealand Chairman and Managing Director, Albert Goller, commended lake
Imaging for its leadership in introducing the best medical imaging technology to Australia.
"Lake Imaging's significant investment displays genuine commitment to improve health services in
Victoria," Mr Goller said.
"We are pleased to be partnering with Lake Imaging and to be providing them with these world leading technologies as it will enable them to reduce waiting times for imaging, while at the same time improve diagnostic confidence and deliver greater patient outcomes.
"As a result of their leadership position, we expect that they will have people from all over Victoria traveling to their facilities for their medical imaging requirements."
Media contact:
Craig Lightfoo
Partner - Lake Imaging
03 5339 0700 0409 330 731
Joanne Woo
Manager Marketing Manager - Medical Solutions
Siemens Ltd
0418 548 146