Diagnostic imaging, business

Siemens Magnetom Essenza sets trend in MRI quality and cost reduction

5 November 2007

Siemens Medical Solutions has invested in the development of affordable systems targeted at meeting the needs of hospitals and practices that want to cover the complete diagnostics area with a small budget.

For this customer group Siemens has customised a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI) that is priced at up to several hundred thousand euros below the conventional 1.5 Tesla systems of this type.

The Magnetom Essenza is the least expensive 1.5T MRI system incorporating Tim (Total imaging matrix) technology, which offers the physician all the standard clinical applications with excellent image quality.

The Siemens Magnetom Essenza

Another innovation is the IsoCentre Matrix: installed at the centre of the magnet, it is always in the correct position, thus giving a further guarantee of simple workflows and outstanding image quality.

"Magnetom Essenza will make MR imaging attainable for hospitals and practices that simply could not afford to provide these services to their patients, and to sites needing a second system to address growing waiting lists. Our new system represents a paradigm shift. It will change the market permanently," predicted Walter Märzendorfer, Head of the Magnetic Resonance Division at Siemens Medical Solutions. "We have put a number of innovations together in this one system, including Tim, which our customers have valued for years and created a package optimised for low total cost of ownership. We know there is enormous cost pressure on healthcare providers, so we looked for and found ways to make MRI more affordable."

In addition to the low initial investment, savings of up to 25% can also be attained on installation costs for space, power requirements and construction. In part this is due to the light-weight 3.5 tonne magnet, which even makes it possible to install the system on higher floors. If the system is replacing an existing MR system, it can reduce energy consumption up to 50% thanks to its high-performance electronics. Since the state-of-the-art magnet has zero helium boil-off, there is no need to regularly refill this expensive substance and the system is always ready for operation.

A powerful magnetic gradient (30mT/m) enables the new member of the Magnetom family to deliver superior image quality for all clinical applications. Using Tim technology with Magnetom Essenza, the area of the patient to be examined can be covered with up to 25 seamlessly integrated coil elements that are read by eight independent radiofrequency channels.

Tim allows for flexibly combining up to four different coils, which make patient and coil repositioning virtually unnecessary. Tim also enables Parallel Imaging for reduced acquisition times. All of these benefits translate into workflow improvements as well as increased patient throughput, not to mention improving the profit situation. As an example, a complete examination of the entire central nervous system can be performed in less than ten minutes.

Siemens estimates that over 60% of the MRI systems sold worldwide in 2007 will be 1.5 Tesla systems. In order to meet the demands of the variety of institutions, from diagnostic imaging centres to municipal and university hospitals to research centres, Siemens Medical Solutions now offers four 1.5T systems, including its new addition: Magnetom Avanto, Magnetom Espree, Magnetom Symphony and Magnetom Essenza.

To top

Save this page on del.icio.us

To top