The latest medical technology
Medical technology enables precise diagnostics and efficient therapy for the entire spectrum of medical care, particularly in respect of innovative first-rate medicine. Vivantes as one of the largest clinic groups in Europe is equipped with the latest medical technology in all specialist fields in order to offer you these increasingly precise forms of diagnostics and therapy and to be able to live up to our own expectations.
Our radiology has been completely digitalized for a fast and – if required – worldwide availability of the findings at any time. The accordant storage film system files the prepared x-ray images as digital image files.
In addition to highly modern devices for the conventional x-ray diagnostics, fluoroscopy systems, mammography devices and high-end ultrasound – color coded Doppler systems we are using the following large medical devices:
Magnetic resonance scanner 1.5 Tesla (MRI)
This device produces cross-sections of the human body by means of strong magnetic fields within the radiofrequency range and thus enables a precise assessment of organs and disease patterns without any x-ray radiation.
The 1.5 T MRI offers our patients advantages like the big aperture of the magnet, a comfortable lying-system and the possibility to be able to examine almost the entire body without time-consuming coil-changing. The latest technology of this device additionally reduces the examination-durations and the noise-level during examination.
Computer tomograph 6 lines to 64 lines (CT)
The 64 lines Multislice CT Somatom of Siemens is one of the latest available CT-scanners. It combines highest detail resolution with a short duration of examination and the best radiation protection. The CT enables the visualization of finest body structures and a precise representation of the single organs in three-dimensional reconstruction. The highest quality of imaging hence comes along with the best possible reduction of the radiation exposure.
Cardangio/ left cardiac catheter measuring station
This measuring station is a highly modern x-ray device. The heart is being examined from the groin over the aorta with a representation of the coronary vessels by means of contrast medium.
Angiographic device Siemens Axiom Artis dTA
The main fields of application of this device are the diagnostics and the treatment of vascular diseases but also the therapy of tumor diseases, the implantation of port-systems for a chemotherapy and the therapy of hemorrhages. The device allows the imaging from any position within a full range of 180°. At this, several images can be prepared from different angles within a short period resp. can be converted into spatial views. The device additionally uses a radiation protection program which ensures low-level radiation doses for the patient and the examiner.
Fluoroscopy device Siemens Axiom Luminos TF
This highly modern x-ray device supports the performance of gastrointestinal examinations, examinations of the veins and of special x-ray fluoroscopies.
Digital x-ray system Siemens Axiom Aristos MX
This completely digital flat-panel detector system enables the imaging regarding cranium, spine, extremities, abdomen and thorax. The bucky-table and the separate raster-wall-detector enable the comfortable preparation of x-rays in upright position (e.g. two-level routine thorax). Another feature of the device is the particularly large flat-panel detector with 43 cm x 43 cm.
Ultrasound scanner Siemens Acuson Antares PE
The device enables examinations at the soft tissue and vessels of the abdomen, of the extremities and of the neck. Color-coded Duplex- and Doppler-examinations are possible in addition to B-mode sonography.
Storage film systems
This system files prepared x-ray images as digital image files. These images are ideally calculated and of a high quality and the system furthermore works with a radiation significantly lower in comparison to normal x-ray examinations.
Mammography device
The mammography is an x-ray examination of the female breast. It is being applied in respect of the early detection of breast-cancer on the one hand and supports the clarification of already known tumor-suspect findings on the other hand. The accordantly very soft x-rays enable contrast-rich images which show also small, not yet palpable tissue formations.
Vivantes assures the performance of its clinics and therefore the quality of the medical services by means of constant investments in this area. In 2008, Vivantes invested in medical devices and systems with a total volume of 16.5 million Euro – with 6.7 million Euro exclusively in respect of x-ray devices.
We plan – for the period to 2010 – medical technology investments amounting to almost 35 million Euro regarding radiology, radiation therapy, ultrasound diagnosis devices, long-term respirators, narcosis devices, operating tables, operating lights, endoscopy technology, infusion technology, defibrillators and high-frequency surgery devices, with 13.5 million Euro in the field of radiology.
Vivantes will use the following medical technology from 2010:
Positron emission tomograph (PET CT)
The PET uses certain radioactive substances, the so-called tracers, which are being injected into the patient prior to the examination. The tracers accumulate in regions with particularly active metabolism so that their radiation can be measured by means of a special camera resp. can be three-dimensionally represented. The metabolic activity of organs and tissue is thus being indicated which enables a detection of disease foci like malignant tumors, metastases or foci of inflammation with highest sensitivity. The PET can also be applied for purposes of neurological diagnostics, e.g. in case of dementia, epilepsy and brain tumor, due to the very precise representation of the cerebral metabolism.
1 LOC CT
The 128-lines CT can scan a human from the head to the legs within the period of 20 seconds. This reduces the examination time to a few seconds. The radiation is being significantly reduced in comparison to older devices as well. This computer procedure allows the three-dimensional reconstruction of images of each body region in the shortest time and in every spatial plane which enables an immediate analysis on the part of the radiologist. A special feature of the new 128-lines CT is the high-resolution, non-invasive representation of the coronary arteries. The entire heart is being scanned in less than six seconds resp. is being “frozen” during its motion due to the rapidness of the CT. Images of the coronary arteries can therefore be prepared in highest resolution. The radiologist can then inspect the inside of the coronary vessels in order to find possible calcifications or fat deposits at the vessel wall which could lead to a stenosis of the coronary vessel. By-passes and stents can be examined with a high image quality as well. A diagnostic invasive heart catheter is thus – in many cases - not required for the patient anymore.
Linear accelerator
The linear accelerator is being applied within the radiation therapy. Patients with tumors which lie deeply inside the body are being irradiated by means of the linear accelerator as a rule. The device adapts the energy and the kind of radiation according to the requirements of the respective therapy. The penetration depth of the radiation can hence be varied which leads to a better field homogeneity.
