UK musculoskeletal research boosted with introduction of 3 Tesla MRI

26 March 2010

Scientists at the Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit (LMBRU), based at Chapel Allerton Hospital, have recently welcomed the installation of a Magnetom Verio from Siemens Healthcare. The system is the only large bore 3 Tesla MRI in the UK being used purely for this purpose.

The Magnetom Verio features a large 70cm bore to enable more flexibility and allow researchers to place patients off centre, providing better quality imaging results. The ability to place hands and wrists at the centre of the Verio provides the researchers with clearer and more in-depth images. The bore also accommodates a greater range of patients and can capture sharper images due to less anxiety-related movement.

“Patients will undergo around three or four scans during the course of a research project so the scanner has to be comfortable, which was one of the key decision factors in selecting the Siemens Verio,” said Dr Philip O’Connor, Director of Imaging at LMBRU. “We also needed a large bore system for kinematic imaging. Due to the size of the bore we can put patients off centre; this means we can place joints or extremities in the middle of the scanner without the patient feeling claustrophobic.”

“The Magnetom Verio provides high quality imaging and flexibility so that scientists at the LMBRU will be able to gain a greater depth of understanding during musculoskeletal research,” said Neil Lincoln, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare.

The Verio’s TrueForm magnet and gradient design works to fit the true form of the human body. It provides greater image quality with better fat saturation and also features Tim (total imaging matrix) technology, designed to increase flexibility, accuracy and speed to make every aspect of imaging more efficient and productive. Tim provides seamless scans of up to 205cm without the need to reposition or change coils.

The MAGNETOM Verio from Siemens Healthcare with the team at the Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit (LMBRU). (Left to right): Sue Smith, LMBRU Manager; Rob Evans, Senior MRI Research Radiographer; Peter Wright, MRI Medical Physicist; Dr. Richard Hodgson, Senior Lecturer in MRI; Neil Lincoln, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare.

The LMBRU is part of the Biomedical Health Research Centre, a £13m investment by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Leeds. The centre combines four scientific faculties of the university with clinical and scientific experts at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.