Siemens merges ultrasound sales and service

While Diasonics set up a separate company to sell Vingmed ultrasoundscanners in the U.S. cardiology market, Siemens moved in the oppositedirection last month. The German vendor initiated consolidationof the sales and service staff of its cardiology-focused ultrasounddivision in San Ramon, CA, with the radiology and vascular groupat Quantum Medical Systems in Issaquah, WA.

Both ultrasound offices will be retained in the consolidationprocess, and the two brand names will continue for the time being,said Lonnie Edelheit, Quantum president.

Siemens' acquisition of Quantum a year ago (SCAN 4/11/90) provideda foothold in the high-end radiology ultrasound market. Siemensbases its worldwide ultrasound business unit in the U.S.

Like most other multimodality medical imaging companies, Siemenshas had to play catch-up with smaller, dedicated ultrasound firmsthat have been successful in the technology-intensive radiologyultrasound field.

Siemens decided to combine the two sales and service groupsto provide a unified focus for its ultrasound business and improveresponsiveness to customers, Edelheit told SCAN. The unified salesand service group will handle scanners in the cardiac, radiology,vascular and ob/gyn private-office markets.