Toshiba America Medical Systems of Tustin, CA, has released a version 5.0 upgrade for its Opart mid-field 0.35-tesla open MR systems.
Available for all Opart system configurations, the upgrade includes software plus a new central processing unit. It expands the system's pulse-sequence capabilities and provides improvement in image processing speed, the company said.
The firm has packaged the software upgrades into four categories to meet the requirements of different imaging facilities. The basic package includes basic pulse sequences with fast advanced spin echo (FASE) and 3D swirl encoding for imaging flow artifact.
An MR angiography (MRA) package includes 3D time-of-flight (TOF) MRA providing a new sliding-slab option, 2D/3D TOF MRA with flow averaging, and segmented and gated 2D TOF for carotid artery or peripheral vessel imaging. The orthopedic package includes new water-fat separation options that enable users to either gain signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or reduce the acquisition time, extended fast spin-echo sequences for high-resolution imaging, and steady-state T2 (SST2) for heavily weighted T2 imaging.
An advanced neurological package includes brain imaging enhancements with improved spin-echo (SE) diffusion and perfusion imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping, and a new line-scan diffusion capability that provides more robust conventional spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging (SE DWI), according to the firm. The neurological package includes new steady-state free-precession (SSFP) protocol for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contrast spine imaging with a high SNR, Toshiba said.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
October 7, 2004
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