Siemens Healthineers aims to improve access to MRI with launch of MAGNETOM Free.Star in Vietnam

• Siemens Healthineers has introduced MAGNETOM Free.Star, a new generation of MRI scanners which is designed to make MRI more accessible to people across Vietnam.
• Excellent image quality through the combination of AI-based reconstruction algorithms and a new field strength on the unique High-V MRI platform.
• MAGNETOM Free.Star is a cost-effective scanner with up to 30 percent lower costs¹ over the entire lifecycle of the system through innovative technologies.

Today, Siemens Healthineers formally unveiled MAGNETOM Free.Star, the newest generation of High-V MRI products in Vietnam. This is an important event, marking a new step in Siemens Healthineers' efforts to improve health care services through the continuous application of modern technologies in Vietnam. This launch event was attended by Mr. Fabrice Leguet, Managing Director, Siemens Healthineers Southeast Asia; Mr Kiran Easwaran, Head of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Siemens Healthineers Southeast Asia; Prof. Pham Minh Thong, Chairman, Vietnamese Society of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; and representatives from various associations and media organizations.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important diagnostic technology, which is used to diagnose soft tissue and plays a central role in the early diagnosis and treatment of the world's most common diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and orthopedic problems. However, MRI scanners are not widely accessible in developing countries like Vietnam. This is due to the expensive infrastructure required to ensure the safe and accurate operation of an MRI device, as well as the high cost of installing magnetic and radiofrequency shields. Additionally, it requires a lot of highly skilled human resources to run scans and interpret the results. As a result, many patients are forced to wait a long time or travel long distances to access this advanced diagnostic imaging technology.

“Due to an excellent soft-tissue delineation in various areas of interest, MRI has become a diagnostic tool in many fields of medicine. However, access to MR imaging is currently hindered by high installation and operating costs as well as a shortage of qualified personnel. That has a significant impact on the patients' medical evaluation and treatment. With MAGNETOM Free.Star, we have launched a scanner that is cost-effective and so easy to use that even less experienced personnel can utilize its full potential. This will help to make MR imaging more accessible, especially to local communities in rural areas of Vietnam,” says Mr Kiran Easwaran, Head of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Siemens Healthineers Southeast Asia.

Simple and cost-effective installation and operation

MAGNETOM Free.Star belongs to the new generation of scanners from Siemens Healthineers with a new field strength of 0.55 Tesla. MAGNETOM Free.Star has a patient bore of 60 centimeters and uses the DryCool magnet technology, which requires less than one liter of liquid helium to cool the MRI. Previously, several hundred liters of this scarce raw material were required for cooling. Additionally, the installation of a safety related quench pipe was necessary, which allowed to discharge helium into the open air in case of an emergency. The large helium inventory as well as the construction measures are no longer necessary for the High-V MRI scanners. Because the compact systems can be rolled through normal hospital doors in many places, complex openings of the buildings can also be avoided during installation. The significantly reduced energy consumption adds a positive effect on operating costs as well. The costs over the entire life cycle of the system are up to 30 percent lower than with conventional scanners.

MAGNETOM Free.Star and the High-V MRI platform

MAGNETOM Free.Star combines all the technological innovations of the new High-V MRI platform: The new field strength offers high diagnostic value thanks to AI-based reconstruction algorithms such as Deep Resolve Sharp. It raises the image quality to a level that could previously only be achieved with significantly higher field strengths. In addition, this new field strength offers advantages for clinical fields such as implant and lung imaging. Digital innovations such as myExam Companion, which significantly simplifies the operation and adjustment of the scanner, are designed to make it more accessible to inexperienced operators.

About Siemens Healthineers

Siemens Healthineers AG (listed Frankfurt, Germany0: SHL) is pioneering breakthroughs in Healthcare. For Everyone. Everywhere. As a leading medtech company, headquartered in Erlangen, Siemens Healthineers, through its regional companies, enable healthcare providers around the world to increase value by supporting them in their journey towards expanding precision medicine, transforming care delivery, improving patient experience, and digitalizing healthcare. Siemens Healthineers continuously improves its products and services portfolios, and its applications that combine artificial intelligence and digitalization that play a key role in the next step of medical technology. These new applications help strengthen the company's foundation in the areas of imaging, interventional and laboratory therapy, and cancer treatment. Siemens Healthineers also offers a range of services and solutions to help healthcare providers improve their capacity to deliver better quality and efficient healthcare to patients. By the end of Fiscal year 2021 (30 September 2021), the company generated 18 billion EUR revenues. Following the acquisition with Varian Health Systems, the company now has approximately 66,000 employees globally. For more information, please visit: www.siemens-healthineers.com/vn

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Siemens Healthineers

Phone: 0904 591 769

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