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Siemens Healthineers visualization experts nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize
Erlangen | 2017-09-14
Siemens Healthineers employees Dr. Klaus Engel and Dr. Robert Schneider have been nominated for the German Future Prize along with Professor Dr. Franz Fellner, head of the Central Radiology Institute at Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria, and extraordinary professor at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, for the development of the visualization technology Cinematic Rendering. They are one of three research teams in contention for the award. The prize, awarded by the President of Germany, is one of the country's highest distinctions for technology and innovation. Cinematic Rendering technology, developed by the two visualization experts and their clinical partner, generates photorealistic three-dimensional representations of the human body from the output of CT and MRI scans. Using the radiological diagnostic software applications Syngo.via and Syngo.via Frontier, the technique enables previously unseen levels of clarity.
Press Releases
Siemens Healthineers visualization experts nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize
- Dr. Klaus Engel and Dr. Robert Schneider make up one of three research teams put forward for the award together with Professor Franz Fellner, MD, head of the Central Radiology Institute at Kepler University Hospital in Linz
- The three nominees are jointly responsible for developing the medical visualization technology known as Cinematic Rendering, which allows photorealistic representations of clinical image data
- The technique facilitates communication with patients and referring physicians, supports surgeons in the choice of surgical strategies and opens up new opportunities in medical training
Siemens Healthineers employees Dr. Klaus Engel and Dr. Robert Schneider have been nominated for the German Future Prize along with Professor Franz Fellner, MD, head of the Central Radiology Institute at Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria, and extraordinary professor at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, for the development of the visualization technology Cinematic Rendering.

A virtual journey through the human body
Fiber bundles of the brain – Cinematic Rendering based on data gleaned from magnetic resonance imaging.

Cinematic Volume Rendering Technique
The image shows stent grafts in the aneurysmal descending aorta, the abdominal aorta, the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk.

Cinematic Volume Rendering Technique
High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging, showing very detailed white matter fiber track.

Cinematic Volume Rendering Technique
The patient has multiple fractures of bilateral ribs, the vertebra and the transverse process on the left.

Cinematic Volume Rendering Technique
There are pulmonary metastases within the bifurcations of the lung from a renal cell carcinoma.

A virtual journey through the human body
Side view of the vascular structures inside the skull. Cinematic rendering based on image data from a scan using an angiography system and syngo DynaCT software.

A virtual journey through the human body
View of the breast and breast tissue. The red spot at center is a tumor in the tissue of the breast. Cinematic rendering based on tomosynthesis data.

A virtual journey through the human body
Skeleton with skull, ribs, sternum and pelvis. The heart is visible behind the ribs. The kidneys and abdominal aorta can be seen in the abdominal cavity.

Artistically generated image showing transparent fibers overlaid on an anatomical image. Color coding of the transparent fibers represents the direction of the main fiber bundles in the brain.

Cinematic Rendering for Surgery
In the case of pancreatic tumors, in turn, a type of hybrid view is helpful, in which the Cinematic Rendering1 presentation of the vessels is overlaid on the traditional DICOM image of the tumor.

Cinematic Rendering for Surgery
Of importance to the surgeons was the realistic photo-quality presentation using Cinematic Rendering1, which shows bones as white and tissue as red, for example.

Cinematic Rendering for Surgery
At the surgeons’ request, the user interface on the prototype1 has been kept highly intuitive and easy to follow.

Simultaneous Multi-Slice is based on an acceleration technology that will speed up imaging 2D acquisition time by a factor of three, enabling advanced MRI applications (such as DTI and BOLD) in the clinical routine.

3D image of a hand
Now, for the first time, Multitom Rax makes it possible to take 3D images under the patient's natural weight bearing condition.

3D image of a hand
Now, for the first time, Multitom Rax makes it possible to take 3D images under the patient's natural weight bearing condition.

3D image of a hand
Now, for the first time, Multitom Rax makes it possible to take 3D images under the patient's natural weight bearing condition.

The new imaging software platform syngo.via Frontier allows researchers and developers to access the prototypes for new applications. These include cinematic rendering, an application enabling the realistic depiction of volume data-sets.

The new imaging software platform syngo.via Frontier allows researchers and developers to access the prototypes for new applications. These include cinematic rendering, an application enabling the realistic depiction of volume data-sets.

The new imaging software platform syngo.via Frontier allows researchers and developers to access the prototypes for new applications. These include cinematic rendering, an application enabling the realistic depiction of volume data-sets.

The new imaging software platform syngo.via Frontier allows researchers and developers to access the prototypes for new applications. These include cinematic rendering, an application enabling the realistic depiction of volume data-sets.

The new imaging software platform syngo.via Frontier allows researchers and developers to access the prototypes for new applications. These include cinematic rendering, an application enabling the realistic depiction of volume data-sets.

The new imaging software platform syngo.via Frontier allows researchers and developers to access the prototypes for new applications. These include cinematic rendering, an application enabling the realistic depiction of volume data-sets.

A virtual journey through the human body
Fiber bundles of the brain – Cinematic Rendering based on data gleaned from magnetic resonance imaging.

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider and Dr. Klaus Engel

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider, Dr. Klaus Engel and Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider, Dr. Klaus Engel and Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider, Dr. Klaus Engel and Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider, Dr. Klaus Engel and Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Klaus Engel

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Klaus Engel

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Klaus Engel

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Klaus Engel

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Professor Franz Fellner, MD

Nominated for the 2017 German Future Prize: Dr. Robert Schneider and Dr. Klaus Engel
Background Information
Anatomy Meets Cinema – Cinematic Rendering
To the layperson, the output of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans is often nothing more than a meaningless jumble of forms in different shades of grey. It takes a trained eye to identify exactly what the images show. What if the inside of a human body could be visualized in photographic detail – complete with shadows and depth, as vividly as in real life?
Cinematic Rendering for Surgery will make the task of planning operations more efficient and more accurate
- Evaluation study at the Erlangen University Hospital, Department of Surgery
- Clear presentation of the relative position of tumor tissue and blood vessels can help surgeons select the best operating strategy
Cinematic Rendering, a new type of 3D visualization from Siemens Healthineers, shows clinical images of the human body in previously unknown, realistic photo quality. The hyper-realistic method of display not only makes it easier to communicate with patients and referring physicians, but also to train new medical practitioners.
How Cinematic Volume Rendering Technique brings a new view to clinical imaging
- Innovative visualization technology opens up a host of possibilities for communication with patients and referring physicians, as well as for publications and training
- Syngo.via VB20 software upgrade available simplifies workflows across training systems and disciplines
An overabundance of data from various imaging procedures, rising patient numbers, and increasing pressure on costs are just some of the challenges faced by healthcare providers. Every effort is being made to keep workflows as simple and efficient as possible to avoid losing sight of what really matters: the patient. Rapid delivery of three-dimensional results is now possible thanks to a new version of the Syngo.via diagnostic software. Syngo.via VB20 is easy to use and provides customized fast access to individual user preferences.

Klaus Engel
Principal Key Expert for visualization at Siemens Healthineers, Strategy and Innovation

Robert Schneider
Principal Key Expert for visualization and multicore at Siemens Healthineers, Diagnostic Imaging

Franz Fellner
Director of the Central Radiology Institute, Kepler Universitätsklinikum, Linz, Austria
Contact

Ulrich Kuenzel
Financials and Corporate Affairs