Recent advances in MRI technology include faster scan times through simultaneous multi-slice imaging and automated brain scans. Lung MRI is now possible using new sequences. Cardiac MRI has been simplified through automated full-volume scans. Software guides scans for patients with MR-conditional implants. The first 7T MRI system was approved for clinical use. New MRI systems have entered the market with upgrades like ambient lighting experiences to reduce patient anxiety.
2. CONTENTS:-
Introduction
What and What can’t be Diagnosed by MRI
Principle
Advantages and Disadvantages
Recent advances in MRI technology
Lung MRI advancement
Software's reducing MRI scan time
Simplifying Cardiac MRI
Simplifying MRI-Conditional implant scans
First 7T MRI
Silent MRI Scanner
MAGNETOM AMIRAMRI Scanner
FIRST INGENIA 1.5T System
Vantage Titan 3T MRI System
SIGNA MRI
References
3. INTRODUCTION:-
• MRI is a radiology technique
• That uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to
produce images of body structures.
• MRI is based on the principles of NMR
• In 1997 the first MRI exam was performed on a human being.
4. WHAT CAN BE DIAGNOSED BY AN MRI SCAN?
• Most ailments of the brain, including tumours
• Sport injuries
• Musculoskeletal problems
• Most spinal conditions/injuries
• Vascular abnormalities
• Female pelvic problems
• Prostate problems
• Some gastrointestinal tract conditions
• Certain ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions
• Soft tissue and bone pathology/conditions
5. WHO CAN’T HAVE AN MRI SCAN?
• A cardiac pacemaker
• Certain clips in your head from brain operations
• A cochlear implant
• A metallic foreign body in your eye
• Had surgery in the last 8 weeks
6. PRINCIPLE:-
• MRI makes use of the magnetic properties of certain atomic
nuclei.
• Hydrogen nucleus (single proton) present in water
molecules, and therefore in all body tissues.
• The hydrogen nuclei partially aligned by a strong magnetic
field in the scanner.
• The nuclei can be rotated using radio waves, and they
subsequently oscillate in the magnetic field while returning
to equilibrium.
• Simultaneously they emit a radio signal.
• This is detected using antennas (coils)
• Very detailed images can be made of soft tissues.
8. ADVANTAGES OF MRI
• No ionizing radiation
• Better contrast resolution
• Many details without iv contrast
• Images may be acquired in multiple planes (axial, sagittal,
coronal)
• MRI images demonstrate superior soft tissue contrast as
compared to CT scans
• MRI is particularly useful for the scanning and detection of
abnormalities in soft tissue structures in the body like the
cartilage tissues and soft organs like the brain or the heart.
9. DISADVANTAGES OF MRI:-
• Very expensive
• Dangerous for patients with metallic devices placed within
the body
• Difficult to be performed on claustrophobic patients
• Movement during scanning may cause blurry images
• RF transmitters can cause severe burns if mishandled
10. RECENT ADVANCES IN MRI TECHNOLOGY:-
• The most recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) technology have been on the
Software side,
Enabling faster contrast scans,
Greatly simplified cardiac imaging workflows,
and allowing MR scans of the lungs.
In addition, a few new MRI scanners have entered the
market in the past year.
11. LUNG MRI NOW POSSIBLE:-
• Lung MRI has been problematic since the lungs are filled with
air and there is a low density of the hydrogen atoms required
to create MR images.
• For this reason, computed tomography (CT) has traditionally
been used for lung imaging.
• At RSNA 2015, Toshiba introduced its Ultra short Echo Time
(UTE) sequence for dedicated pulmonary MRI.
• Available on the Vantage Titan 3.0T MR system, UTE allows
clinicians to view tissue with very short relaxation times and
high susceptibility regions where signals generally disappear
too quickly for accurate MR imaging.
12. SOFTWARE GREATLY REDUCES MRI SCAN
TIMES:-
• In April, the FDA approved two new Siemens MRI
applications.
The Simultaneous Multi-Slice application acquires MR images
simultaneously as opposed to sequentially, reducing 2-D
acquisition times by as much as a factor of 8.
GOBrain is designed to dramatically reduce the time
required for MRI examinations of the brain.
13.
14. • Using SMS, physicians can reduce the length of MRI brain
examinations, which can vary significantly, to times
compatible with the clinical routine (e.g., up to 68 percent
for diffusion tensor imaging- DTI) and bring clinical relevance
to advanced neurological applications.
• SMS can be used in the treatment of patients who possess
limited tolerance for longer scan times, including pediatric or
geriatric patients.
• Enabling clinically validated brain examinations in just five
minutes, the new GOBrain application allows acquisition of
clinically essential image orientations and contrasts with a
single button-push. The technology is backed by Siemens’
high- channel density coils and the company’s MRI scanning
software DotGO.
15. • GOBrain helps improve patient throughput and potentially
reduce costs per scan.
• Shorter scan times, which are better tolerated by patients,
can help curb lengthy and potentially expensive rescans as
well as potentially reduce sedation.
• The SMS application is available on Siemens’ Magnetom
Aera 1.5T, Magnetom Skyra 3T, and Magnetom Prisma and
Prisma Fit 3T MRI systems.
• The GOBrain application is featured on the Magnetom Aera
and Magnetom Skyra systems.
16. SIMPLIFYING CARDIAC MRI:-
• Cardiac MRI has been very limited, only making up about 1
percent of all MRIs in the United States due to its complexity,
long exam times and high cost.
• However, GE Healthcare introduced a new MRI technology at
RSNA 2015 to greatly simplify cardiac MR in hopes of
expanding its adoption in place of CT scans.
• Developed for its new SIGNA MRI scanners, the new
ViosWorks cardiac MRI software helps automate the image
sequences to perform a full 3-D chest volume scan that
includes the full motion of the myocardium during the
cardiac cycle, blood flow, time and fully automated
quantification to create what GE calls a 7-D cardiac MRI
exam.
•
17.
18. • ViosWorks also speeds the imaging time from 70 minutes
down to about 10 minutes using a single, free breathing
exam.
• Gathering a full volume dataset of a chest in motion creates a
large amount of data that would normally clog the average
picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and post-
processing 3-D image workstation.
• An average cardiac MRI exam today is about 200 MB, while a
ViosWorks exam is about 20 GB. So, GE has launched a new
cloud computing service to help process that large amount of
data quickly with remote super- computing power.
19. SIMPLIFYING MRI-CONDITIONALIMPLANT
SCANS:-
• Advancements in medical implant technologies have greatly
increased the number of patients with these devices in recent
years, which complicated MRI scanning of these patients.
• MR-conditional implants include knee and hip replacements,
spine implants, pacemakers and implantable cardioverter
defibrillators (ICDs).
20. • More of these devices are becoming MR-conditional, which
permits MRI scanning within certain parameters.
• These implants require adjustments in the scanner setup in
order to create optimal images in the presence of these
metal implants and to ensure patient safety.
• However, these adjustments can be time consuming and
complex, causing patients with MR-conditional implants to
often be denied MRI exams.
• At RSNA 2015, Philips unveiled the first MRI automated user
interface technology designed to greatly simplify exams with
patients that have MR-conditional medical implants.
• The new Scan Wise Implant software offers a guided user
interface and automatic scan parameter selection designed
to support “first-time-right” imaging. The software guides
operators to meet the specific criteria for each implant.
21. FDA CLEARS FIRST 7T MRISYSTEM:-
• In October 2017, the FDA cleared the first 7T MRI system,
more than doubling the static magnetic field strength
available for use in the United States.
• The Magnetom Terra from Siemens Health care is the first 7T
MRI system cleared for clinical use in the United States. The
first approved indications for the system are The system’s
neurological and musculoskeletal (MSK).
22.
23. SILENT MRI SCANNING:-
• GE Healthcare has expanded its Silent Scan MRI noise
reduction technology to its Signa Pioneer 3T system, which
features an enhanced Silent Scan package to greatly reduce
noise during MRI scans.
• Silent Scan has been added for musculoskeletal (MSK)
imaging and spine imaging, in addition to a complete neuro
exam that also includes diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).
• Silent Scan includes two distinct approaches to reduce
acoustic noise by addressing the source, the gradient-magnet
interaction and the mechanical vibration.
• Silent Scan is available on GE’s Discovery MR750w, Optima
MR450w, SIGNA PET/MR, SIGNA Pioneer and SIGNA Explorer.
24.
25. SIEMENS INTRODUCES MAGNETOM AMIRA
MRI SCANNER:-
• In January 2016, Siemens announced FDA clearance for the
Magnetom Amira 1.5T system.
• It offers technology that enables significant power savings in
standby mode.
• The system offers technology to help shorten many exams
and enable many patients to undergo scans in routine
applications.
• Siemens offers a package of protocols optimized for rapid
examinations while maintaining high image quality.
26.
27. • Additionally, the system features DotGO,
• Siemens’ latest generation of MRI examination software that
simplifies protocol management and offers the right
operating sequence for each individual scan to suit
requirements.
• This software can help users increase exam consistency,
reproducibility and efficiency.
• The MAGNETOM AMIRA is equipped with Siemens’ latest
applications and SYNGO MR E11 software architecture.
28. • Hospitals that operate a Magnetom Amira alongside other
Siemens systems can switch seamlessly between scanners.
• They also can exchange many coils between all current
1.5T MRI systems. The system’s software platform includes
Quiet Suite technology, which minimizes system noise
during an MRI examination.
29. PHILIPS INSTALLS FIRST INGENIA 1.5T SYSTEM:-
• The Philips Ingenia 1.5T system with in-bore Ambient
Experience technology offers a soothing patient experience
with imagery, sound and light, helping patients relax.
• The first U.S. Installation took place in August at the
Alexandria VA Medical Center in Pineville, La. About 35
percent of patients have claustrophobia or some considerable
level of anxiety about the machine itself, with about 20
percent requiring repeat scans due to motion during the scan.
30.
31. • The Ambient Experience MRI can help calm patients for
better, motion-free exams.
• The system can be personalization for each patient with a
selection of video themes viewable from inside the MRI,
which are combined with sound through headphones.
• Noise is one of the most uncomfortable parts of an MRI exam
for many patients, so the system offers technology to
automatically provide up to 80 percent noise reduction.
32. • The Ingenia 1.5T also offers upgrades such as ScanWise
Implant, the industry's first MRI-guided user interface to
simplify the scanning of patients with MR conditional
implants like knee and hip replacements, spine implants and
pacemakers.
• The software helps users streamline exams in this expanding
healthcare area and complements Philips' suite of diagnostic
imaging solutions, helping to improve hospital workflow and
enhance the patient experience.
33. TOSHIBA ANNOUNCES UPGRADES TO
VANTAGE TITAN 3T MRI SYSTEM:-
• Toshiba introduced the Vantage Titan 3T/intelligent Solution
(iS) Edition MR system at RSNA 2015.
• The new system includes patient-friendly upgrades that
improve image quality and throughput while providing
more coverage and a better exam experience.
• The enhancements include an entirely new gradient design
to provide increased performance and image stability for
maximum image quality.
• The new Atlas Speeder Head/Neck Coil is designed for
optimal imaging of the head and neck, with improved
patient comfort.
34. • There also is a new automatic alignment tool in EasyTech for
cardiac, neuro and spinal exams to help reduce exam times
and provide more consistent results by automating the
alignment and location of anatomy.
35. GE RELAUNCHES SIGNA MRI:-
• Nearly two years ago GE rebranded its MRI line under the
Signa name.
• At RSNA 2015 it show cased advancements in applications as
well as the hardware with its Signa Pioneer 3.0T, Signa
Explorer and Signa Creator 1.5T MRI scanners.
• The SIGNA Pioneer also features technology called Total
Digital Imaging (TDI) enabling improved image quality and
increasing SNR by up to 25 percent.
• TDI is composed of Direct Digital Interface (DDI), Digital
Surround Technology (DST) and Digital Micro Switching
(DMS). DDI employs an independent analog-to- digital
converter to digitize inputs from each of the 97 RF channels.
36.
37. • Every input is captured and every signal is digitized; DST
combines the digital signal from every surface coil element
with the signal from the integrated RF body coil resulting in
richer, higher SNR spine and body images with superior
homogeneity and uniformity; and DMS is a significant
advancement in RF coil design with intelligent Micro Electro-
Mechanical Switches (MEMS) that support ultra-fast coil
switching, which enables future expansion of Zero TE imaging
capabilities.
• Zero TE enables imaging of tissues that are conventionally
difficult to see with MRI, such as cortical bone, ligaments and
tendons.
• Both SIGNA Creator and SIGNA Explorer 1.5T MR scanners are
designed to lower total cost of ownership and use 34 percent
less power than previous-generation MRI systems and require
a smaller footprint for installation.