Nuclear Scanner Failures Detected With Real-Time Monitoring

June 7, 2010 – A program proactively monitors molecular imaging system performance online and in real-time to help predict scanner breakdowns. The system can also detect the majority of potential computed tomography (CT) tube failures.

Siemens Healthcare today launched the Guardian Program to monitor critical parameters. The TubeGuard software for the Biograph mCT, an option of the Guardian Program, helps predict the CT tube failures.

Whether detecting cancer, or conducting heart or brain imaging, renal exams or bone scans, physicians must be able to rely on their PET-CT or nuclear medicine scanners. Any system downtime can have significant costs to customers, since an expensive radiopharmaceutical dose must be ordered specifically for each patient in advance of the examination. In order to help assure the highest availability of the scanners, Siemens has extended its Guardian Program to enable proactive online monitoring in real-time for the Biograph mCT, Biograph TruePoint, Symbia S and Symbia T product lines.

If parameters exceed or undershoot defined critical levels, the system will proactively send a message to the Siemens Service Center. This will trigger a predefined, high-speed support and repair process with clearly defined reaction and repair times. A service expert will guide the customer through the first critical phase and help re-establish the system’s availability as fast as possible.

TubeGuard can now predict the majority of all potential CT tube failures within Biograph mCT. More than 10 sensors monitor the tube functions with Siemens Remote Service (SRS). Tube exchanges can be scheduled in advance and unplanned downtime can be avoided.

For more information: www.siemens.com/healthcare