Hitachi Medical Systems America launched a new 1.5-tesla MRI scanner with an oval-shaped magnet bore as a work-in-progress at last week's RSNA 2011 meeting in Chicago.
Called Echelon Oval, the new scanner is designed to reduce patient claustrophobia compared to standard MRI scanners, which use cylindrical-shaped bores. Oval features a magnet bore that is 74-cm wide, compared to 60 cm on Hitachi's conventional Echelon 1.5-tesla scanner.
The oval bore is a closer match to the typical body habitus of most patients than cylindrical bores, and it creates a less-stressful patient experience, especially when combined with Hitachi's feet-first imaging protocols, according to the company. Hitachi also widened the patient table used in Oval to match the wider bore; the scanner has the same 50-cm imaging volume available with Echelon.
Other features on Oval include a monitor mounted on the scanner gantry to help with patient positioning, and a new set of five radiofrequency coils. The head coils include three different types of tops to support different types of brain imaging; Oval also features a new torso coil and a dedicated cardiac coil.
Hitachi has submitted a 510(k) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Echelon Oval.
In other Hitachi news, the company demonstrated its 64-slice Scenaria scanner for the first time since the system received 510(k) clearance earlier this year. The first U.S. system was installed in July, and the unit marks Hitachi's entry into the workhorse segment of the CT market.
On the Oasis open-bore MRI scanner, Hitachi demonstrated new applications, including a protocol for volume acquisition in three planes, an advanced gradient echo sequence, and new parallel imaging protocols.
Finally, last week's meeting marked the formal RSNA debut of Hitachi Aloka Medical, the company formed by Hitachi's acquisition of Aloka in November 2010. The new firm highlighted a 4D elastography option available for its HI Vision Ascendus scanner.
