Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard imaging modality for soft tissues. It produces detail cross-sectional images of soft tissue and bone anatomy, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, brain and organs, without the use of ionizing radiation. In addition to orthopedic imaging, MRI is also used for heart, brain and breast. MRI uses gadolinium contrast in many exams to highlight tissues and blood vessels, which enhances images and offers better diagnostic quality. It can also be used in conjunction with PET scans. How does MRI work? MR creates images by using powerful magnets to polarize hydrogen atoms in water (the body is made of of more than 80% water) so they face in one direction. A radiofrequency pulse is then used to ping these atoms, causing them to wobble, or resonate. The MRI coils detect this and computers can assemble images from the signals. Basic MRI scans will focus on the resonance of fat and water in two different sequences, which highlight and contrast different features in the anatomy.

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Hurricane Risks to MRI and Imaging

RAD-Planning has issued an advisory for imaging centers in the path of Isaac in the Gulf Region, which forecasts predict will soon become a hurricane.

Toshiba Receives FDA Clearance for 8- and 32-Channel Titan 1.5T MR Systems

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. received FDA clearance on its new Vantage Titan 1.5T series, which features the 8-, 16- and 32-channel MR systems. The series offers a scalable solution with a full upgrade path from the 8-channel to the 32-channel system.

Toshiba Receives FDA Clearance for Industry’s First 16-Element MR Flex Coils

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has received FDA clearance for its high-density 16-element flexible coil system, developed in partnership with NeoCoil.

Siemens Magnetom Spectra 3T MRI Receives FDA Clearance

Siemens Healthcare announced that the MAGNETOM Spectra 3 Tesla MRI system has received clearance from the FDA. The MAGNETOM Spectra system offers premium imaging at a competitive price, providing hospitals and radiological institutes with easier access to 3T technology.

FDA Clears ViewRay MR-Radiotherapy Device for Premarket

The FDA has cleared an MRI-guided radiation therapy system developed by the Cleveland, OH-based ViewRay, Inc. for premarket notification.

MR Unit Not the Cause of Philadelphia Imaging Center Explosion, Exec Says

A late-afternoon explosion at a Philadelphia imaging center Tuesday may be the result of an electrical or gas overload at one of its strip-mall neighbors, according to the company president.

MR Trumps Clinical Exams in Breast Conservation, Research Shows

Through the use of contrast-enhanced MRI, researchers believe they can determine the likelihood of breast conservation in cancer patients with greater accuracy than through conventional clinical examination.

MRI’s Pepsi Challenge: Comparing Boreless and Wide-bore Technologies

Sponsored by Hitachi Healthcare Americas

Lingering doubts about the image quality generated by open-bore MRI technology have, perhaps, unfairly held up its adoption. When a pair of radiology organizations set up the equivalent of an MRI Pepsi® challenge in their respective practice environments, staff members at both locations were surprised at the response.

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