Siemens receives Health Canada Medical Device License for Biograph mMR

Siemens Canada Healthcare has received a Health Canada Medical Device License for the Biograph mMR. Biograph mMR is the world's only fully integrated whole-body molecular MR with simultaneous magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) data acquisition.

Biograph mMR comprises a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) scanner and an integrated positron emission tomography (PET) detection system with an architecture that performs as one and was designed for uncompromised MR and PET image quality. While MR provides exquisite morphological and functional details in human tissue, PET goes further to investigate at the same time the human body at the level of cellular activity and metabolism. With its simultaneous data acquisition, the innovative system is expected to prove to be particularly valuable in the identification of neurological, oncological and cardiac conditions of disease and in supporting therapy planning. The Biograph mMR also opens new opportunities for research, such as the development of new biomarkers or new therapeutic approaches.

Simultaneous acquisition of PET and MRI data reduces overall procedure time by providing PET/MRI in a single scan, thus eliminating any time required for patient transport. Faster procedure times improve the patient experience and enable faster delivery of images to clinicians for review. The collection of MRI attenuation data during diagnostic scanning also reduces procedure time and improves clinical workflow.

Siemens has already installed a number of Biograph mMR systems at customer sites for clinical research, including university hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Munich Technical University, the university hospital of the Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen in Germany, and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA.

Earlier this year, Siemens received the 2011 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation for the Biograph mMR. Furthermore, Biograph mMR was honoured with the "red dot" for its high design quality in the category "Life Science and Medicine." The red dot award is the world's largest and most famous design competition.