The first few minutes are instrumental in emergency situations. A new portable ultrasound device from Siemens Medical Systems supports medical personnel in these efforts. The device, known as Acuson P10, is a hand-held device intended for complementary initial diagnostic care and triage, particularly in cardiology, emergency care and obstetrics. It is poised to change the physical exam by providing immediate information to health care providers at the earliest possible patient intervention points, such as intensive care units, ambulances and medical helicopters.

Now functional cardiac analysis is performed even faster than before with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – thanks to a new software module from Siemens: the new "Inline Ventricular Function" (Inline VF) enables full automatic detection of heart contours and their motion during image acquisition. Physicists can accurately evaluate cardiac functioning immediately after the scan. Previously, the image data had to be transferred to post-processing consoles, and frequently contours had to be post-processed manually.

New functions for vascular analysis expand syngo WebSpace, Siemens Medical Solution's client-server solution for computed tomography (CT). syngo WebSpace allows users to access and manipulate the CT images via an Internet or other network connection. Improved algorithms and additional tools in the new software version enable physicians to accurately analyze small vessels as well as document reports more quickly.

Siemens Medical Solutions advanced its image reviewing and archiving system for cardiology even further and added new levels of efficiency to clinical processes. It is now possible to create evidence-based reports with syngo Dynamics. The physician is able to supplement his own clinical experience with the best treatment results from medical research.

Siemens Medical Solutions expanded its portfolio of ultrasound applications: the syngo Arterial Health Package (AHP) calculates cardiovascular risks by measuring the carotid intima media thickness and determining the so-called vascular age - the relative age of the vessel. Together with other factors, such as cholesterol values and blood pressure, the physician can use the results of syngo AHP to better assess a patient's myocardial or stroke-related risk and establish an individual prevention and treatment plan.

At the European Society of Cardiology's (ESC) annual congress, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) today demonstrated its HeartStart MRx Monitor/Defibrillator, which enables paramedics to transmit patient data from the ambulance to the hospital's emergency department. Upon reception of the data at the hospital, clinicians can use the ECG data to begin assessing what treatment the incoming patient will need. By allowing a hospital to begin organizing its resources before the patient arrives, the MRx can help reduce the time to treatment.

iSOFT has been appointed as sub-contractor to Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS) to provide and support laboratory information systems at Malta's largest hospital, the new 850-bed Mater Dei Hospital. Malta Information Technology and Training Services (MITTS) has also extended its 12-year relationship with iSOFT for an upgrade of the current patient administration system.