system-familySiemensInterventional X Ray

Siemens Axiom Artis Family

Pre-Artis-Zee generation of Siemens fixed interventional X-ray systems. Axiom Artis was among the first commercial fixed-lab interventional platforms to ship with digital flat-panel detectors (earlier IR labs used image intensifiers), and the biplane cardiac Axiom Artis dBC is widely cited as the world's first commercial biplane fixed-lab IR with flat-panel detectors in both planes. Shipped through the 2000s under three-letter model designators (dFC / dTC / dBC / dFA / dTA / dBA / dMP); Siemens simplified the model naming when the Artis Zee family succeeded Axiom Artis in new orders.

Model designations (three-letter system)

The Axiom Artis three-letter designators encode detector type, mount, and clinical application:

  • First letter — always d (digital flat-panel detector).
  • Second letter — mount / geometry:
    • F — Floor-mounted gantry
    • T — Ceiling-mounted gantry
    • B — Biplane (two gantries)
    • M — Multipurpose
  • Third letter — clinical application:
    • C — Cardiac
    • A — Angio (vascular / neuro / IR)
    • P — used in dMP (multipurpose)
Designator Mount Application Typical detector
dFC Floor Cardiac FD 20 × 20 cm
dTC Ceiling Cardiac FD 20 × 20 cm
dBC Biplane Cardiac 2 × FD 20 × 20 cm
dFA Floor Angio FD 30 × 40 cm
dTA Ceiling Angio FD 30 × 40 cm
dBA Biplane Angio 2 × FD 30 × 40 cm
dMP Floor Multipurpose FD 30 × 38 cm or 38 × 38 cm

Detector options

  • FD 20 × 20 cm — cardiac standard.
  • FD 30 × 30 cm — intermediate angio.
  • FD 30 × 38 cm — angio / multipurpose.
  • FD 38 × 38 cm — large-format angio / neuro / peripheral.

Platform highlights

  • First commercial biplane flat-panel cath lab (dBC) — Siemens was the initial OEM to ship a biplane IR room with FPD in both planes.
  • 40°/second rotational speed on dFA — rotational angiography and 3D reconstruction workflows.
  • syngo user interface — shared with Siemens CT / MR.
  • Rotational angiography + DynaCT — cone-beam CT on the IR gantry, a Siemens-originated capability that propagated through later Artis generations.
  • Modular configurations — multipurpose dMP spans GI fluoroscopy, angiography, and general-IR applications.

Clinical positioning

  • Cardiac catheterization (dFC / dTC) — coronary angio, PCI, structural-heart, EP.
  • Biplane cardiac (dBC) — pediatric cardiac, complex EP, structural-heart.
  • Vascular surgery / interventional radiology (dFA / dTA) — peripheral vascular, aortic, neuro interventional.
  • Biplane neuro (dBA) — aneurysm coiling, AVM embolization, stroke thrombectomy.
  • Multipurpose (dMP) — GI fluoroscopy, IR, angio in a single room.

Market position (secondary / refurb)

  • Large global install base in its era. Axiom Artis units remain operational at many sites, though succession to Artis Zee / Artis Q has reduced the active population.
  • Service ecosystem — Siemens OEM service; multi-vendor IR service on the Axiom Artis chassis is established.
  • Successor pathway — Artis Zee (direct successor with clearer naming like "Artis Zee Floor 20 × 20" replacing the three-letter code), Artis Q (current-generation), Artis pheno (robotic-arm premium).

Relationship to siblings and successors

Related

Cross-layer references