Imaging giant Siemens Healthineers is teaming up with Israel’s Insightec to develop compatibility between the former’s MRI systems and the latter's noninvasive treatment for essential tremor in order to bring the novel treatment to more patients.
Insightec’s Exablate Neuro system won FDA approval just a month ago. It uses MR-guided ultrasound waves rather than incisions or implants to target and ablate tissue deep in the brain. The tie-up will involve Siemens’ Magnetom Aera and Skyra MRI systems and further the company’s push to “broaden and complement” its diagnostic imaging offerings with advanced therapies, the companies said in a statement.
Siemens expects to offer patient-specific treatment planning and continuous temperature monitoring during Exablate Neuro procedures, according to the statement. For Insightec, the collaboration will expand its reach in the essential tremor market: “Siemens has embraced our technology and together we will bring our therapy to significantly more patients and providers," said Insightec CEO Dr. Maurice Ferré, in the statement.
Siemens rebranded its Healthcare unit as Siemens Healthineers in May this year, prompting speculation that it would spin off the separately managed business. As part of the rebrand, the company announced it would introduce new offerings, including managed services, consulting and digital services, as well as augmenting its therapeutic and molecular diagnostics capabilities.
Since the makeover, Siemens Healthineers has joined forces with Case Western Reserve University on MRI fingerprinting, that is, to make a diagnostic MRI uniquely identifiable for forensic use. While traditional MRI analysis is qualitative, Siemens wants to make it quantitative to improve the reproducibility of results across scanners and institutions. And later, the company delivered on its promise to grow in molecular diagnostics, picking up the German liquid biopsy startup Neo New Oncology.
- here's the statement
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