Siemens Somatom Scope Saves Up to 65% on energy and 35% on Costs

Siemens Healthcare (Erlangen, Germany) latest 16-slice entry level CT scanner, Somatom Scope, with energy savings of up to 65% on the previous generation was launched at this year’s European Congress of Radiology (ECR).

Healthcare systems struggle to keep costs in check so with Somatom Scope Siemens aims to maintain clinical high standards but also address financial concerns. Sharing his excitement about the new scanner, Carlos Alheiro, Somatom Scope Product Manager, pointed out that, “this time we have built a system addressing clinical excellence and cost efficiency. There’s equally balanced between these two areas. With the Somatom Scope, operating costs over the entire operational lifetime are up to 35% lower than with the previous model.”

The scanner is available in two configurations: the Somatom Scope with its enhanced cost efficiency and the higher-performance Somatom Scope Power. Both models include the eCockpit technology package, which makes the systems easier to use and extends their operational lifetime. “Dose reduction features address the clinical part with the same detector and scintillator material that we use in top of the range scanners, but this is alongside cost reduction technologies, including eCockpit.”

At the heart of this technology, Siemens has responded to customer feedback and need, and as such, they have developed a scanner with greater economy while retaining clinical excellence. This clever combination begins with the very low space requirement of just eight square meters and the light weight of the new CT scanner, enabling installation in almost any room in the hospital.

In developing this product, Siemens looked at the complete scanning process across the technology’s lifetime. “From warming the tube and with eStart we can extend the tube lifetime, then we have eMode during the scan which reduces wear and tear and avoids peaks of stress. Finally there is the eSleep feature that enables energy saving when the scanner is not being used,” remarked Mr Alheiro.

Other functions save on air conditioning due to low heat emissions, so that overall energy savings of up to 65% can be made compared with the previous generation.

With Somatom Scope, Siemens are targeting small to medium size institutions, or larger hospitals, which require a second or third CT scanner.

“In our opinion having this perfect balance between the clinical and financial aspects is something we lead the way in,” commented Mr. Alheiro. By all accounts the cost saving and clinical excellence is a winning combination - the orders are already rolling in.

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