The American Hospital of Paris acquires groundbreaking photon-counting CT scanner

The American Hospital of Paris has entered a new era of medical innovation by becoming the first private French hospital to acquire a photon-counting CT scanner, the NAEOTOM Alpha.Pro by Siemens Healthineers. This revolutionary CT scanner, only six of which have been installed in leading centers France, represents a major breakthrough which is redefining medical imaging standards.

Disruptive Technology at the Heart of Diagnostic Testing

The photon-counting CT scanner is a disruptive technology compared to conventional scanning systems. At the core of this innovation lies the QuantaMax detector, which directly transforms X-ray photons into electric signals. Unlike standard scintillation detectors, the QuantaMax is equipped with a crystal semiconductor that measures the energy of every single photon separately, generating intrinsic spectral data with every scan.

This groundbreaking approach makes it possible to obtain images with exceptionally high spatial resolution, without electronic noise, and with a considerably improved contrast-to-noise ratio. Quantum Technology® by Siemens Healthineers lowers the radiation dose while providing better image quality, offering an unprecedented level of detail combined with minimal radiation exposure. 

Major Clinical Benefits in Four Key Specialties

This technology is significantly impacting several areas of medicine:

In cardiology, the photon-counting CT scanner reconstructs high resolution images that make it possible to view important details inside the coronary arteries. It offers enhanced capacity to differentiate soft heart tissue, view small blood vessels and analyze calcium deposits in coronary stenosis – challenges that conventional scanners are unable to address as efficiently.

In oncology, where diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring all rely on imaging, this technology substantially improves resolution, ensuring greater test accuracy while lowering radiation doses in follow-up exams. 

In pulmonology, the level of precision is revolutionizing the evaluation and treatment of pulmonary diseases, promising more accurate test results leading to more targeted therapies.

In pediatrics, the significant decrease in exposure to ionizing radiation is a major advancement for the protection of young patients.

Dramatic Decrease in Risk of Exposure

Thanks to this technology, radiation doses can be lowered by 30% and the use of iodinated contrast agents by 25%, thus limiting the risk of renal toxicity. Intrinsic spectral imaging opens new possibilities for tissue analysis, enabling a more fine-grained characterization of the different organs.

The acquisition of this cutting-edge technology is part of the innovation strategy of the American Hospital of Paris and strengthens its position as a pioneer in medical imaging. 

The new CT scanner will benefit around 12,000 patients annually in cardiology, oncology and pediatrics while offering the medical teams a more powerful and reliable machine to accomplish their jobs. The Hospital also intends to build partnerships with Siemens Healthineers in the fields of scientific publication, AI and training programs.

Siemens Healthineers teams will install and commission the new scanner at the Hospital in late August, after which this cutting-edge system will become fully operational.

• Media contacts:
• Pascale Launay, Chief Communications Officer: pascale.launay@ahparis.org / +33 6 23 22 71 33
• Christian d'Oléon, DGM Conseil : chrisdo@dgm-conseil.fr / +33 6 08 49 89 07
• Karen Bornaghi, DGM Conseil : karen.bornaghi@forwardglobal.com/ +33 6 29 90 94 93

Siemens Healthineers:

• Merryl Moureau, Head of Communications, Siemens Healthcare SAS
  merryl.mourau@siemens-healthineers.com

• Charlotte Quiedeville, Communications Manager, Siemens Healthcare SAS charlotte.quiedeville@siemens-healthineers.com