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.
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
|