Language used by GE Medical Systems to introduce its Excite MR technology has sparked sharp rebukes by competitors such as Siemens Medical Solutions. In its Monday introduction of Excite at the 2002 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) meeting, GE said the new technology for its Infinity MR scanner represented the "most significant MR advance in more than a decade."
In response, Siemens issued a press release saying that medical imaging equipment manufacturers need to act responsibly when making product launches and announcements.
"Otherwise, we just reduce the science and technology to that of purchasing a household appliance, and we are concerned that this eventually will jeopardize the quality of healthcare," said Nancy Gillen, vice president of MR at the Iselin, NJ-based vendor.
Siemens also took issue with the description of Excite as a technological breakthrough. The company said GE's technology is not new, and is in fact the same ultra-fast MR technology that Siemens first introduced in 1997. Siemens said the ultra-fast MR technology it introduced that year featured eight high-speed radio frequency channels.
Siemens said it enhanced the technology in 1998 (with new computer specifications on its Syngo platform), and in January 2002 (by incorporating panoramic array technology and parallel imaging techniques for faster imaging).
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersMay 23, 2002
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GE debuts Excite MR technology, May 21, 2002
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