Siemens is introducing a new technology called Simultaneous Multi-Slice that promises to reduce MRI 2D scan times of the brain by up to eight times. In addition to more efficient utilization of the MRI scanner, the technique should help with imaging people who are claustrophobic or can’t lay still for very long, especially children. The company expects that many scans that were only used in more challenging cases will be made available as routine for expanded applications. Perhaps Simultaneous Multi-Slice can even help improve how intra-operative MRI is used in the OR.
As the name of the technology implies, Simultaneous Multi-Slice captures multiple slices at the same time as opposed to slice-by-slice as has been standard on all MRI scanners in the past.
More info according to Siemens:
A new application called GOBrain enables clinically validated brain examinations in just five minutes, and was developed in collaboration with the Department of Radiology and the Athinoula A. Martinos Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in the U.S. Facilitated in part by Siemens’ high-channel density coils and the unique MRI scanning software, DotGO, the clinically essential image orientations and contrasts are acquired at the push of a button. Patient throughput is improved, and costs per scan can potentially be reduced. Shorter scan times are better tolerated by patients, and can help reduce rescans and/or sedation, which can be time-consuming and costly.
In addition to speed and quality, standardization across systems is also an important element for hospitals when it comes to meeting healthcare efficiency demands. With its syngo MR E11 software platform, Siemens introduces a uniform application platform for the Magnetom family. The first available scanners will be the Magnetom Aera 1.5T and Magnetom Skyra 3T systems, then expanding to the portfolio. The focus, in addition to expanding the application offering, is achieving consistency across the entire fleet of scanners and managing these effectively. One consistent user interface, as well as intuitive protocol optimization allowed by the DotGO scanning software further aid in providing standardization and reproducibility. The syngo MR E11 software platform and applications are also designed for the MR-PET scanner Biograph mMR, which has now scanned over 50,000 patients. A new technology called BodyCOMPASS is designed to enable motion-free PET images with MR-based motion compensation beyond gating, which could be particularly beneficial in delineating abdominal and lung lesions which are prone to motion. This and other planned improvements with the new software show the synergistic potential of the Biograph mMR, as it utilizes the MR information to improve PET beyond its current capabilities. An advanced and unique whole-body PET Attenuation Correction with a 5-compartment is planned to be available to also include bones, and is designed to result in an even better comparability to PET/CT.
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