Siemens Healthineers presents two revolutionary high-end MRI scanners for clinical and scientific use
Siemens Healthineers presented its two latest magnetic resonance tomographs designed for clinical and scientific use at the Siemens Healthineers Shape 23 Keynote in November. The annual event offers a blend of market expertise and Siemens Healthineers innovations, which in some cases are unveiled for the first time at the event.
The event focuses on three of the biggest challenges faced by healthcare providers, namely, to create a world without fear of cancer by making oncology care more predictive and more precise; to meet patients where they are by reconfiguring care delivery in both low and high acuity settings, and; to care for those who care for others by using technology as a solution to the global healthcare workforce crisis.
The two new magnetic resonance tomographs showcased at the event included the Magnetom Cima.X with 3T field strength and the 7T Magnetom Terra.X.
Both the a Magnetom Cima.X and Magnetom Terra.X are under development and are not commercially available.
Arthur Kaindl, head of Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Siemens Healthineers, explained that due to their “high field strengths and strong gradient performance, both scanners will be optimal for detecting the finest structures in the body more clearly. By introducing AI-based algorithms on these high-end scanners for the first time, we reduce the scanning time in MRI by up to 50% compared to other systems from Siemens Healthineers, while improving image quality.”
Magnetom Cima.X
The 3T Magnetom Cima.X will use the company’s strongest gradient with an amplitude of 200 mT/m and a slew rate of 200 T/m/s. This is 2.5 times higher than the currently strongest MRI from Siemens Healthineers. Such a high gradient can help to better understand neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, even between relapses. So-called microstructures can be visible more clearly with the help of the strong gradients and could play a major role in understanding these diseases. Microstructures can hardly be visualized with classical MR imaging. Thus, treatment could be initiated earlier, improving the outlook for patients.
Magnetom Terra.X
Magnetom Terra.X with a field strength of 7T represents the cutting edge of commercial MR imaging. The system will be the successor to Magnetom Terra, the first 7T clinical system, launched in 2017. The higher signal at 7T enables very high-resolution imaging of the head, for example. This is particularly important in diseases where the detection of the smallest lesions can be crucial for further treatment. Even in the field of knee imaging, the visibility of the smallest lesions can determine whether surgery is required or not. The new hardware and software from Magnetom Terra.X, named “Ultra IQ technology” by Siemens Healthineers, will significantly increase the capabilities of a 7T system. MR imaging at these extremely high field strengths can lead to a darkening of the image impression for instance at the lower part of the head. With Magnetom Terra.X, potentially relevant findings are clearly visible even along the edges of the image. While classic MR imaging works especially well in body regions with a lot of water in the tissue, other substances in the body, such as sodium, can be better visualized with high field strengths. This form of imaging goes beyond the mere representation of anatomy and enables a visualization of processes in the body such as metabolism.
Especially for research applications, both new scanners will offer extensive innovations, such as the new Open Recon platform. “Open Recon allows us to run the reconstruction algorithms we have developed directly on the scanner. For the first time, we can transfer our research developments more easily, efficiently, and effectively into clinical routine,” explained Prof. Matthias Stuber from the University of Lausanne.
In addition, both scanners will offer assistance systems that support scan preparation and the scan itself. Even these complex systems will be easy to operate.
For more information, visit:
Magnetom Cima.X
https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/magnetic-resonance-imaging/3t-mri-scanner/magnetom-cima-x
Magnetom Terra.X
https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/magnetic-resonance-imaging/7t-mri-scanner/magnetom-terra-x
