Siemens unveils innovative whole-body scanning system

Siemens has unveiled a whole-body scanning system, which utilises magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) technology in tandem.

The Biograph mMR represents the world's first integrated whole-body molecular MR with simultaneous data acquisition technology, featuring an architecture that allows MR and PET scanners to perform as one.

It means that clinicians will be able to extract data on functional details in human tissue and cellular activity and metabolism at the same time, with scans taking as little as 30 minutes, compared to more than an hour with traditional systems.

A Biograph mMR unit has already been installed at the university hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Munich Technical University, where it is undergoing clinical use testing.

The unveiling of the machine was attended by Horst Seehofer, the Bavarian minister-president.

Walter Maerzendorfer, chief executive officer of the magnetic resonance business unit at Siemens Healthcare, said: "Biograph mMR is the latest breakthrough innovation of Siemens in the field of diagnostic imaging. It will be a new instrument for driving personalised medicine forward."