Siemens' PET/CT system receives FDA clearance

Siemens Healthcare has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the Biograph Horizon PET/CT system, which enables physicians to visualize small lesions early.

The system’s 4 mm LSO crystals scintillate faster and have a higher light output than BGO crystals, resulting in high resolution and better image quality, and enabling Time-of-Flight acquisition. Biograph Horizon’s capabilities will be particularly helpful for lung cancer detection, according to the company, since more than half of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at a late stage and have an increased likelihood of distant metastasis.

The Biograph Horizon is the smallest PET/CT system with the lowest power requirements, according to Siemens. It also offers automated manual tasks and protocol-based exams. The system also includes technologies such as gentle system warm-up and automatic standby that extend the system’s economic life in addition to reducing power consumption.

“More than 65 percent of healthcare institutions in the U.S. that are planning to purchase a new PET/CT system in the near future will be either replacing such a system or adding an additional unit,” says Mario Zeiss, vice president, Global Marketing and Sales, Siemens Healthcare, Molecular Imaging. “Biograph Horizon’s premium PET/CT technology and small footprint make it ideal for this market. The system’s versatility and scalability helps providers serve a broader mix of patients and expand into new service lines, creating competitive advantage and new opportunities for growth.”