Hitachi Medical Systems America of Twinsburg, OH, launched a new open MRI scanner, called Oasis, as a work-in-progress at this week's RSNA meeting in Chicago.
The new system is a high-field open scanner that uses a new magnet compared to the company's existing open MRI system, the 0.7-tesla Altaire unit. It also shares the same electronics platform, radiofrequency system, and gradient coils as Hitachi's 1.5-tesla Echelon unit. Hitachi has not yet released field-strength specifications for the Oasis magnet.
Oasis also features an asymmetrical patient table that is offset toward one side of the magnet's support columns, rather than running through the center of the magnet. The design optimizes the unit's image quality, according to the company.
Oasis does not yet have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, and Hitachi did not estimate when commercial shipments of the system would begin.
In other MRI news in the company's booth, the vendor demonstrated version 5.1 of its Ascent operating system software. The new version includes new pulse sequences and data management features, including expansion of fast spin-echo imaging capabilities and DICOM enhancements.
Work-in-progress applications possible with 5.1 include time-resolved MR angiography (MRA), fluoro-triggered MRA, diffusion tensor imaging, and image centering. When cleared by the FDA, the software will be offered at no charge for Hitachi customers with warranty or coverage under the company's Ultra Plus program.
A major RSNA highlight for Hitachi was Radar, a parallel imaging technology that measures k-space with a radial technique that reduces motion artifacts. The technique is most commonly used for brain images, but could have applications in abdominal imaging as well. Hitachi plans to roll out Radar in the next 60 days.
Other Hitachi MRI highlights included a new head coil, based on the company's Rapid parallel-imaging technique, which was first available on the Airis Elite system and is now available on Altaire scanners with Ascent 5.0 software. The company also featured a new body coil that supports Rapid imaging, as well as the CardioSuite heart imaging software for the Altaire system.
A five-channel shoulder coil is also new for the Echelon scanner, scheduled to begin shipping at the end of 2006. It also supports parallel imaging, according to the company.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
December 1, 2006
Related Reading
TeraRecon, Hitachi team up, November 22, 2006
Road to RSNA, Hitachi Medical Systems America, November 15, 2006
Road to RSNA, Hitachi Medical Systems America, November 1, 2006
Hitachi offers Ascent 5.0 upgrade for Altaire, Airis II, and Elite MRIs, September 29, 2006
Hitachi Probeat proton beam therapy system online at M. D. Anderson, July 4, 2006
Copyright © 2006 AuntMinnie.com
