RECENT ADVANCES IN MRI TECHNOLOGY

The most recent big advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology have been on the software side, enabling faster contrast scans, greatly simplified cardiac imaging workflows, and allowing MR scans of the lungs. In addition, a few new MRI scanners have entered the market in the past year. Watch the video “MRI Technology Report at RSNA 2015.” Contributing Editor Greg Freiherr offers an overview of MRI advances at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2015 annual meeting.

Multi-Contrast MRI Images From a Single Acquisition

In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted clearance for GE Healthcare’s MAGiC (MAGnetic resonance image Compilation) software, the industry’s first multi-contrast MRI technique that delivers eight contrasts in a single acquisition in a fraction of the time of conventional imaging. MAGiC is the result of a collaboration with SyntheticMR AB and gives clinicians more data than conventional scanning. This technique gives users the flexibility to manipulate MR images retrospectively, leading to significant timesavings, fewer rescans and therefore cost savings, which combined can assist the clinician in making a more decisive diagnosis. It uses an acquisition technique that allows the ability to modify image contrast after scanning has been completed, which is not possible with conventional MR. GE said MAGiC delivers more potential for the clinician to utilize changes in the image contrast to enhance their diagnosis and to reduce orders for rescans. Clinicians have the ability to generate multiple image contrasts in a single MR scan – including T1, T2, STIR, T1 FLAIR, T2 FLAIR, dual IR, phase sensitive IR and proton density weighted images of the brain in a single acquisition. To change the contrast, users simply move the cursor on the interface to change the parameters such as TR, TE and TI. MAGiC enables one scan that can do the work of many. MAGiC is available on GE’s Optima MR450, Optima MR450w, Discovery MR750, Discovery MR750w and Signa Pioneer MRI systems.

SOURCE: https://www.itnonline.com/article/recent-advances-mri-technology