Siemens Healthineers and UCSF will also study various ways to minimise standby energy consumption of MR scanners and the potential for Siemens Healthineers turn-key solutions for eco-friendly scanners
The partnership will leverage new Siemens scanner technology such as the new MAGNETOM Free.Max (0.55T) MRI scanner to improve sustainability and accessibility in medical imaging. (Credit: Siemens Healthineers)
Siemens Healthineers has collaborated with the University of California, San Francisco (UC San Francisco or UCSF) to develop a carbon-neutral radiology imaging service.
As part of a research and innovation-driven collaboration, the partners will assess artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology, clinical data and image integration, and quantitative imaging.
Under the Green Radiology area, the carbon-neutral radiology imaging service will be created at UCSF.
Using Siemens Smart Infrastructure solutions, the power consumption of radiology equipment will be monitored at UCSF. The initiative is a result of the collaboration between UCSF, Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Siemens USA, and Siemens Healthineers.
UCSF Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging chair Dr Christopher Hess said: “Health care is estimated to be responsible for up to 5% of global net emissions, and imaging almost certainly contributes to an outsized share of that total.
“At the same time, imaging is becoming increasingly central to medical decision making. Our goal is to find a way for radiology departments worldwide to reduce our environmental footprint. I can think of no better place than UCSF to begin the pioneering work.”
To access quality imaging without travelling long distances, the partnership will also leverage new Siemens scanner technology.
In addition, Siemens Healthineers and UCSF will study various ways to minimise standby energy consumption of MR scanners and the potential for Siemens Healthineers turn-key solutions for eco-friendly scanners.
By combining UCSF’s expertise in clinical applications and AI, and Siemens Healthineers expertise in AI and technology development, the partnership will also focus on enhancing access to quality radiological imaging in Northern California.
The deal is said to leverage Siemens Healthineers’ latest advancements in clinical MRI technologies including the new MAGNETOM Free.Max (0.55T) MRI scanner, which uses less helium than typical scanners.
Siemens Healthineers Americas head and president David Pacitti said: “Siemens Healthineers is very excited about the innovation partnership with UCSF to bring MRI to places it has never been before, advancing the access and quality of radiological imaging in Northern California, while simultaneously working towards sustainable, eco-friendly healthcare.”