Siemens Healthineers is a German multinational company with specializing in medical technology and medical imaging. It was spun off from its parent company Siemens in 2017, which retains a 75% stake. Siemens Healthineers is the parent company for several medical technology companies and is headquartered in Erlangen, Germany.
History 19th century
The history of Siemens Healthineers started in Berlin in the mid-19th century as a part of what is now known as Siemens AG. Siemens & Halske was founded by Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske on 12 October 1847."Werner von Siemens" , "Wobbe Vegter", 2006. Retrieved on 2 February 2016.Feldenkirchen, Wilfried. Werner von Siemens: Inventor and International Entrepreneur, 1992. Print. The company formed around an invention created by Siemens called the pointer telegraph. Based on the telegraph, Werner von Siemens' new invention used a needle to point to the sequence of letters, instead of using Morse code.Huurdeman, Anton A. "Electrical Telegraph in Germany", The Worldwide History of Telecommunications, 2003. Retrieved on 2 February 2016. The company, then called Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske, opened its first workshop on 12 October."Founding of the 'Siemens & Halske Telegraph Construction Company,' which later became Siemens AG", Siemens AG, Retrieved on 29 September 2015. Eventually, the new company included electrometrical equipment and specialized in medical technology."Company History", Siemens Healthcare Website, Retrieved on 23 May 2023.Fouse, Gary C."Reiniger-Gebbert-Schall- Forerunners of Siemens Medical Solutions in Eralngen". Erlangen: An American's History of a German Town, 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
In 1896, only one year after Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered the X-ray, Siemens produced the first industrially manufactured X-ray tubes for medical diagnostics."Technological milestones", Siemens Corporate Website, Retrieved on 23 May 2023.Hess, Edward D., and Robert K. Kazanjian. "Siemens Medical Solutions: significant innovations". The Search for Organic Growth, 2006. Retrieved on 2 February 2016.
20th century
In Aschaffenburg, Germany, X-ray pioneer Friedrich Dessauer founded his own company, which later came to prominence under the name Veifa-Werke. The companies maintained close ties with each other, finally merging in 1932 to form Siemens-Reiniger-Werke (SRW).The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Siemens AG", Encyclopædia Britannica, Retrieved on 4 February 2016. Later, in 1933, Siemens introduced rotating anode tubes for X-rays that could withstand much greater electrical loads, laying the foundation for the development of modern X-ray tubes."Siemens Pantix Tubes", The University of Manchester Library Image Collections, 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
Supported by Siemens in Erlangen, Inge Edler, a Swedish physician, and physicist Carl Hellmuth Hertz were intrigued by the idea of using ultrasound technology to achieve more precise heart diagnoses. In 1953, they became the first to use the ultrasound technique for echocardiography.
In 1958, Elema-Schönander AB (subsequently Siemens-Elema AB) developed the first cardiac pacemaker implanted in a critically ill heart patient by surgeon Åke Senning.Cooley, Denton A., MD. "In Memoriam: Tribute to Åke Senning, Pioneering Cardiovascular Surgeon", US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 2000. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
In the 1960s, Siemens engineer Ralph Soldner developed the world's first "real-time" ultrasound unit, the Vidoson.Woo, Joseph, Dr. "A short History of the Real-time ultrasound scanner", Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1998–2001. Retrieved 12 February 2016. With this technology, technicians could view movements inside the body on a screen as they were taking place."The History of Ultrasound", Ultrasound Schools Guide, Retrieved 12 February 2016.
In 1974, The company exhibited its first tomographic image of a human head at an annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, in Chicago. One year later, the company released its first computed tomography scanner, the Siretom."Brief History of CT", Imaginis, Retrieved 22 February 2016."Original "Siretom" dedicated head CT scanner, circa 1974", CT Scan Tips and Protocols, 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
In 1998, Siemens introduced the first track-based laboratory automation system, the ADVIA LabCell Automation Solution.Felder, Robin A., PhD. "Is Lab Automation Right for Your Lab?", CAP Today, 2001. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
21st century The name Siemens Medical Solutions was adopted in 2001, and the change to Siemens Healthcare was made in 2008. In 2015, Siemens named Bernd Montag as its new global CEO.Prodhan, Georgina. "Siemens names new healthcare bosses, power head goes", Reuters, 26 January 2015. Retrieved on 28 January 2016.Medical Dealer. "Siemens Healthcare management reorganized with Bernd Montag as CEO", Medical Dealer, 27 January 2015. Retrieved on 28 January 2016. In May 2016, the business operations of Siemens Healthcare were rebranded "Siemens Healthineers."AuntMinnie.com. "Siemens Healthcare now known as Siemens Healthineers", AuntMinnie.com, 4 May 2016. Retrieved on 12 May 2016.Reuters. "Siemens healthcare rebrands as 'Healthineers'", Reuters, 4 May 2016. Retrieved on 12 May 2016.Siemens Corporate Website. "Siemens Healthcare Becomes Siemens Healthineers" , Siemens, 4 May 2016. Retrieved on 12 May 2016.
Siemens was the first to combine positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT).Townsend, David W., PhD. "Combined PET/CT: the historical perspective", US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2016. By creating this hybrid imaging system, Siemens combined the PET scanner's ability to visualize biological processes of life with a CT system's anatomical image of tissues and organs. In doing so, the combination system allows a simultaneous display of anatomy and biological function. Time magazine named the Siemens Biograph, the world's first commercial PET-CT scanner, the "Innovation of the Year" in 2000.Kuhl, Helen. "PET/CT: A Dynamic Duo", Imaging Technology News, 3 May 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
In a similar fashion, Siemens launched the Biograph mMR in 2010, the first scanner to completely combine MRI and PET technologies.Forrest, Wayne."Siemens to unveil Biograph mMR PET/MRI scanner at RSNA", Aunt Minnie.com, 19 November 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2016."Siemens Healthcare Unveils Biograph mMR Whole-Body Integrated MR-PET System Capable of Simultaneous Data Acquisition ", BioSpace, 19 November 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2016. Like PET-CT, PET-MR hybrid systems combine multiple technologies to provide a better image of the body, enabling better diagnoses, research, and treatment plans for patients. It combines precise images of body tissues from MRI with metabolic cell activity from PET.
In 2011, Siemens discontinued its linear accelerators for the treatment of cancer, citing cost pressures and a decision to focus on diagnostic imaging in cancer.
In May 2016, Siemens AG rebranded its Siemens Healthcare division to Siemens Healthineers as a part of its new management strategy.Siemens Healthineers."Siemens Healthcare Becomes Siemens Healthineers" Siemens Healthineers, 4 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.Reuters."Siemens healthcare rebrands as 'Healthineers'" Reuters, 4 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.DOTMed."Siemens rebrands health care business as Siemens Healthineers" DOTMed, 4 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016. CEO Bernd Montag introduced the name along with a five-minute celebratory dance routine performed outside the division's headquarters in Erlangen. The routine was met with ridicule; the Financial Times called it a "writhing, spandex-clad horror." Multiple outlets called the new logo similar to that of Fitbit and called the rebranding a failure at large. The name also led some people to believe that it was an article from The Onion. Montag later admitted that the dance routine was a mistake.
In November 2017 the company announced its intention to become publicly listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in March 2018. A minority stake of up to 25% was expected to be sold at part of the IPO, which would be Germany's largest listing since the IPO of Deutsche Telekom in 1996.Siemens chooses Frankfurt over New York for Healthineers IPO, 29 November 2017 Retrieved 24 January 2018 The first day of trading was 16 March 2018, with a 15% stake sold at an initial share price of €28.00.Börse Frankfurt Siemens Healthineers AG Retrieved 6 November 2018
In 2022 Siemens Healthineers has drawn criticism for its decision to continue operating in Russia despite the country’s invasion of Ukraine, which has led to widespread civilian casualties and international condemnation. Unlike its parent company, Siemens AG, which announced its withdrawal from the Russian market in response to the invasion, Siemens Healthineers has stated it will maintain its presence, citing its commitment to providing healthcare products and services. This stance has been perceived by some as undermining global efforts to isolate Russia economically and diplomatically, particularly as international sanctions aim to pressure the country to cease its aggression against Ukraine.
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