SOMATOM Definition FlashRedefining standards

In times of growing patient numbers, increasingly complex therapy pathways and limited clinical capabilities, the reasonable thing to do is rethink clinical routines and not perform CT „the way it was always done“. With the SOMATOM Definition Flash, Siemens Healthineers establish industry standards – from scanning without beta-blockers and without hazardous sedation, to characterizing lesions while maintaining dose neutrality with Dual Source Dual Energy.
Redefining standards in:

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Oncology

Features & Benefits


CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Redefining standards in Cardiology

When performing a cardiac scan, the main challenge is often posed by the time and effort it takes to prepare the patient. With a scan time of only 0,6 s and a full temporal resolution of 75 ms, the new SOMATOM Definition Flash allows scanning the entire heart and evaluating its morphology and coronaries without any beta blockers. Patients suffering from irregular heart rates or atrial fibrillations benefit from high-end cardiac scanning only taking 250 ms to perform – about a quarter of a heartbeat. Redefining your standards in cardiology with the new SOMATOM Definition Flash will expand your institution’s clinical capabilities, increase outcome quality for your patients, and help you streamline workflows significantly.

“With the SOMATOM Definition Flash, we can routinely scan patients with high and irregular heart rates without the need to prepare the patient, due to dual source technology's native temporal resolution of 75 msec which allows many options for motion-free image capture.”

Brian B. Ghoshhajra, M.D.
MGH Boston, Massachusetts, USA


CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Pediatrics

A key challenge in pediatrics is to get these young patients to hold still. That’s why today’s standard procedure includes intense preparation, sedation, and after-care.
The Flash Spiral scan mode combines a scan speed 458mm/s and a temporal resolution of 75 ms – reducing the average examination time to only 0.49 s, in effect allowing you to routinely perform pediatric scans without hazardous sedation. Flash speed and FAST CARE technology make pediatric imaging both easier to use and more patient-friendly – for example, FAST 3D Align automatically optimizes the field of view. Increase your institution’s competitiveness and improve patient outcome by making Flash speed and Dual Source your standard.

“With the Flash, we can lower the dose without the need of sedation for patients under five (because of the speed of the scan).”

Marilyn J. Siegel, MD
Pediatric Radiologist, Washington University, USA


CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Oncology

In order to provide precise diagnoses, oncology examination is all about recognizing lesions, and visualizing and quantifying tissue. With Dual Source Dual Energy scanning – the only modality that enables DE scanning at doses comparable to a conventional 120 kV scan –, you will be able to get all the information you need in a single scan. Creating virtual non-contrast images based on the Dual Energy information will help you and your institution save time and resources. Dual Energy Optimum Contrast achieves images with very low noise at high contrasts. Enhance your institution’s clinicial capabilities by standardizing dose-neutral Dual Source Dual Energy CT – introducing „two-in-one“ CT scanning for all your patients, and turning imaging information into imaging intelligence with syngo.via applications.

“From our perspective, any institution with a SOMATOM Definition Flash can start using Dual Source DE protocol for head and neck tumors from one day to the next.”

Hirofumi Kuno, MD
National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan

Clinical Use


The Flash spiral mode with 458 mm/s allows examinations without breath-hold or sedation in non-cooperative patients like children.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 80 kV, 82 mAs

Flash scan mode

DLP: 21 mGy cm

Scan time: 0.2 s

CTDIvol: 1.32 mGy

Scan length: 87 mm

Eff. dose: 1.86 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

 


CARE Child facilitates 70 kV scans, CARE Dose4D reduces the mAs accordingly – making sure that for our most delicate patients (children), the radiation dose is as minimal as possible.
 

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 70 kV, 130 mAs

Flash scan mode

DLP: 8 mGy cm

Scan time: 0.32 s

CTDIvol: 0.37 mGy

Scan length: 144 mm

Eff. dose: 0.35 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

 


High temporal resolution of DSCT with 75 ms allows freezing motion in cardiac CT, resulting in a clear visualization of coronaries.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 120 kV, 426 mAs

Flash scan mode

DLP: 252 mGy cm

Scan time: 0.68 s

CTDIvol: 6.95 mGy

Scan length: 308 mm

Eff. dose: 3.5 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

Heart rate: 100 bpm


The Stellar detectors significantly reduce slice blurring, resulting in a more precise visualization of calcified lesions and in-stent restenosis evaluation.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 120 kV, 338 mAs

ECG triggered sequential scan mode

DLP: 470 mGy cm

Scan time: 6 s

CTDIvol: 34 mGy

Scan length: 137 mm

Eff. dose: 6.58 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

Heart rate: 48-96 bpm


The heart perfusion mode dynamically covers the complete heart with sufficient temporal resolution even for high heart rates induced by Adenosine.

Watch Francesca Pugliese, MD PhD FESC, St Bartholomew´s Hospital, London, UK and learn how to do a dynamic CT myocardial perfusion step by step with our Dual Source CT scanner SOMATOM Definition Flash.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 32 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 100 kV, 125 mAs

ECG triggered perfusion scan mode

DLP: 562 mGy cm

Scan time: 31 s

CTDIvol: 78,2 mGy

Scan length: 70 mm

Eff. dose: 7.9 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

 


Flash Spiral obtains all relevant structures, including coronary arteries, for pre-procedural Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation planning in a single scan in less than 2 s.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 100 kV, 150 mAs

Flash scan mode

DLP: 224 mGy cm

Scan time: 1.3 s

CTDIvol: 3.6 mGy

Scan length: 563 mm

Eff. dose: 3.3 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

 


Dual Source Dual Energy examinations in combination with syngo.via DE Bone Marrow allow for the precise characterization of lesions.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 32 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 80/Sn140 kV, 150/61 mAs

DE/ Bone marrow

DLP: 207 mGy cm

Scan time: 17 s

CTDIvol: 6 mGy

Scan length: 320 mm

Eff. dose: 2.9 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

 


Dual Source Dual Energy scanning uses both tubes at the same time with different kV settings – allowing for virtual non-contrast images, thus eliminating additional non-contrast scans.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 32 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 100/Sn140 kV, 140/119 mAs

DE/ VNC

DLP: 523 mGy cm

Scan time: 19 s

CTDIvol: 11.6 mGy

Scan length: 435 mm

Eff. dose: 7.85 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

Heart rate: 48-96 bpm


CARE kV automatically adapting the kV for the dedicated patient and examination type allows for low dose run-off studies.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 80 kV, 190 mAs

Spiral scan mode

DLP: 419 mGy cm

Scan time: 16 s

CTDIvol: 3.7 mGy

Scan length: 1,102 mm

Eff. dose: 1.8 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

 


ADMIRE2 allows for excellent image quality and sharp delineation of soft tissue borders.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 100 kV, 150 eff. mAs

Spiral scan mode

DLP: 292.2 mGy cm

Scan time: 9.5 s

CTDIvol: 6.21 mGy

Scan length: 450 mm

Eff. dose: 4.38 mSv

Rotation time: 0.5 s

 


Adaptive 4D Spiral technology delivers quantitative perfusion information of whole organs and the whole brain. Additionally, the use of low kV settings reduces dose dramatically.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 32 x 1.2 mm

Tube settings: 70 kV, 100 mAs

Adaptive 4D spiral mode

DLP: 655 mGy cm

Scan time: 36 s

CTDIvol: 56.4 mGy

Scan length: 100 mm

Eff. dose: 1.4 mSv

Rotation time: 0.28 s

 


By using UHR scan modes, even smallest lesions can be clearly visualized.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 16 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 120 kV, 110 mAs

UHR scan mode

DLP: 134 mGy cm

Scan time: 38 s

CTDIvol: 10.7 mGy

Scan length: 119 mm

Eff. dose: 0.11 mSv

Rotation time: 1 s

 


The Stellar detectors and Edge technology deliver z-UHR-like high resolution inner ear images, providing excellent image quality even in smallest regions.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 16 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 100 kV, 136 mAs

UHR scan mode

DLP: 97 mGy cm

Scan time: 11 s

CTDIvol: 18.6 mGy

Scan length: 46 mm

Eff. dose: 0.31 mSv

Rotation time: 1 s

 


iMAR allows for iterative metal artifact reduction no matter if the artifacts are caused by implants such as dental fillings, screws, plates or prosthesis. iMAR helps to boost the image quality and makes sure a sound diagnosis can be done.

CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - Clinical Case

Collimation: 128 x 0.6 mm

Tube settings: 100 kV, 132 eff. mAs

Spiral scan mode

DLP: 239.6 mGy cm

Scan time: 9 s

CTDIvol: 5.46 mGy

Scan length: 424 mm

Eff. dose: 3.6 mSv

Rotation time: 0.5 s

 

Technical Specifications

Detector

Number of slices

2 x 128

Rotation time

0.28 s3

Temporal resolution

75 ms3, heart-rate independent

Generator power

200 kW (2 x 100 kW)

kV steps

70, 80, 100, 120, 140 kV

Isotropic resolution

0.33 mm

Cross-plane resolution

0.30 mm

Max. scan speed

458 mm/s3 with Flash Spiral

Table load

up to 307 kg / 676 lbs3

Gantry opening

78 cm


Dual Source technology is the key to accelerating CT imaging. The combination of two sources, a high table feed, ultra-fast data transmission, and a gantry that can perform a full rotation in 0.28 seconds makes the SOMATOM® Definition Flash truly unrivalled when it comes to scanning speed. Its temporal resolution of 75 ms comes with no sacrifices in image quality – instead, it offers remarkable benefits not only for the most dose-sensitive patients: With the Flash Spiral, dose values under 1 mSv are so frequent that they can be considered routine.


The X-rays generated by the SOMATOM Definition Flash’s two sources are captured by two Stellar detectors. These high-end detectors with miniaturized electronic components generate ultra-thin slices with a very high spatial resolution – enabling coronary CT angiography for very obese patients. Thanks to the high-speed Flash Spiral, they also permit scans of patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Added technologies like Edge and TrueSignal drastically improve the Stellar detectors’ already very good signal-to-noise ratio and deliver outstanding and homogeneous results over the entire field of view – especially when working with low signals.


Dual Energy with Selective Photon Shield

With the SOMATOM Definition Flash’s state-of-the-art technology, outstanding image quality even at low-kV levels and ultra-high speed image acquisition become routine – which opens the door to a huge potential for dose reduction. The Selective Photon Shield also blocks low-energy photons out of the high-energy x-ray spectrum and so prevents unnecessary exposure. Dose-reduction solutions like CARE kV, Adaptive Dose Shield, and X-CARE further contribute to dose efficiency. At the end of the day, it comes down to this: Compared with a conventional 120 kV scan, a Dual Source Dual Energy scan with the SOMATOM Definition Flash is dose-neutral – but provides significantly better results. All of these advantages make more clinical applications accessible for more patients.


CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - ADMIRE

The lower the dose the more difficult it is to reconstruct images with an adequate image quality. This rule is common in CT. Now with Advanced Modeled Iterative Reconstruction ADMIRE4, the newest generation in iterative reconstruction, clinicians and radiologists have access to enhanced image quality with a natural image impression and all clinical applications at a dose level that exceed all expectations. ADMIRE makes integrating iterative reconstruction into daily routine easy: Thick slices are reconstructed at a natural image impression, even from ultra-low dose scans. The reconstructed datasets can easily be stored in PACS or on film. The basis for all this of course is the well acclaimed SAFIRE5 algorhythm – the industry’s first raw-data-based iterative reconstruction – that has introduced a new level of image quality, of dose reduction, and of clinical workflow.


CT Scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash - iMAR

Metal fillings and implants cause artifacts that often result in undiagnostic image quality, costing time for planning and potentially threatening therapy outcomes. iMAR6 is the industry’s most effective algorhythm focused on the removal of metal artifacts for enhanced diagnostic image quality. The minimal introduction of new interpolation artifacts, and the preservation of natural image impression and edge information will help streamline workflows and improve diagnostic confidence – with iMAR, surgical, prosthetic and dental fillings as well as pacemakers are not hiding insights anymore.

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