RSNA 2011: Ziehm Imaging Presents Innovative Mobile C-Arms for Virtually Unlimited Imaging

CHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ziehm Imaging, leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of mobile C-arms, presents its innovative, award-winning product portfolio at RSNA 2011. Latest market analyst reports (GIA[1]) predict substantial growth for the fluoroscopy and mobile C-arm market segments that will be substantially driven by the growing number of minimally invasive procedures. By 2017, the market might reach a volume of 1.4 billion US$. With long-year experience in the mobile C-arm business and a broad product portfolio, Ziehm Imaging is ideally positioned to benefit from this growth potential. "One of our highlights at this year's RSNA is Ziehm Vision RFD hybrid edition that opens up hybrid room applications for physicians working in interdisciplinary environments," says Nelson Mendes, President & CEO Ziehm Imaging Inc. The innovative mobile C-arm offers a cost-efficient alternative solution to fixed installed systems without reducing the imaging capabilities.

Ziehm Vision RFD hybrid edition: high-quality images for complex interventions

The hybrid edition features the innovative flat-panel technology and delivers high-resolution images with over 16,000 shades of gray and a resolution of 1.5k x 1.5k pixels. The detector is not affected by magnetic fields making it ideal for interventional radiologic procedures; it delivers distortion-free, high-resolution images even when close to MR scanners. The squared display format creates a significantly larger visible area with up to 60 percent more information per X-ray than conventional image intensifiers.

"The image quality is comparable to many fixed imaging systems. Very often, I forget that I am using a mobile system," says Grayson H. Wheatley III, MD from Arizona Heart Institute. "I perform percutaneous or catheter-based interventions, on complex aortic problems, such as aortic aneurysms. One of the more innovative procedures I perform are called 'hybrid' procedures and combine the advantages of traditional open surgery with image-guided, catheter-based interventions."

The Ziehm Vision RFD is exactly tailored to hybrid OR use criteria. With up to 25 images per second, its powerful monoblock generator also produces high-quality X-rays of moving objects such as beating hearts. The C-arm features a user-friendly touchscreen interface that is mounted to the sterile OR table, an injector interface that synchronizes contrast media with the imaging process, and an interface for external displays. The large C-arm opening enables easier positioning and patient access during the intervention.

New vascular surgery workflow

This next-generation C-arm also comes with the new software SmartVascular, which enables surgeons to create a digital subtraction angiography at any time without having to use the touchscreen. It automates all process steps from DSA to roadmapping, allowing vascular procedures to be planned with minimum amounts of contrast media and shorter fluoroscopy times.

Unlimited performance for every budget

The powerful 20 kW monoblock generator with a liquid cooling system that enables almost unlimited fluoroscopy time is now also available for the Ziehm Vision R. This innovative technology allows for completely new imaging possibilities for mobile C-arms with image intensifier in vascular surgery. With its rotating anode, the generator uses a variable pulse width of 4 and 50 ms to produce crystal-clear images. Up to 25 frames per second enable high-quality X-rays of vascular structures with optimum contrast. The Advanced Active Cooling system keeps the operating temperature steady, prevents the system from overheating and ensures uninterrupted imaging. Grayson H. Wheatley III, MD from Arizona Heart Institute confirms that "the C-arm is often used for long and complex cases in the OR which can take hours to complete. The Ziehm Imaging system holds up quite well and has never shut down due to inadequate heat management. This is critical since the last thing we want to worry about when treating a patient is the C-arm shutting down because of overheating."

Visit Ziehm Imaging at Booth 7113, Expo Hall B, North Building.

About Ziehm Imaging

Ziehm Imaging specializes in the development, manufacturing and worldwide marketing of mobile X-ray-based imaging solutions. The company has been a market leader in Germany and other European countries for many years. Today, Ziehm Imaging is a global systems provider, employing over 300 people worldwide. Building on competence and creativity, a continuous dialogue and close cooperation with partners, Ziehm Imaging is elevating the boundaries of mobile X-ray imaging and has become a global trendsetter in interventional imaging. Ziehm Imaging has received several awards for its groundbreaking technologies, including the iF design award 2011 and Frost & Sullivan award 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

For more information, please visit: www.ziehm.com.

(1) Global Industry Analysts 11/8/2011

SOURCE Ziehm Imaging