Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body. MRI does not involve X-rays or the use of ionizing radiation, which distinguishes it from CT and PET scans. MRI is a medical application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) which can also be used for imaging in other NMR applications, such as NMR spectroscopy.

MRI is widely used in hospitals and clinics for medical diagnosis, staging and follow-up of disease. Compared to CT, MRI provides better contrast in images of soft-tissues, e.g. in the brain or abdomen. However, it may be perceived as less comfortable by patients, due to the usually longer and louder measurements with the subject in a long, confining tube, though “Open” MRI designs mostly relieve this. Additionally, implants and other non-removable metal in the body can pose a risk and may exclude some patients from undergoing an MRI examination safely.

MRI has a wide range of applications in medical diagnosis such as

• Neuroimaging

• Cardiovascular

• Musculoskeletal

• Liver and gastrointestinal

• Angiography

Source: Wikipedia

Philips Achieva SR 1.5T Smartpath to dStream

Imaging 2.0

Imaging 2.0, Philips revolutionary imaging approach signals our endless quest to raise the bar on clinical excellence – by working with you to develop innovations that enable you to collaborate freely, diagnose confidently, and care passionately.

dStream delivers

• Image clarity: You will benefit from fully digital coils that boost image quality by capturing the MR signal as close as possible to the patient.
• Speed: iPatient streamlines workflow and reduces exam time, by enabling imaging with fewer, lighter coils and faster patient set up.
• Expandability: You will never again have to upgrade your RF receive channels. Channel independence means you can expand your coil family without channel conflicts.

The digital advantage

A technological breakthrough, dStream elevates clinical performance, accelerates patient management, and improves economic value.

Digital clarity and speed

dStream captures a high quality MR signal – directly in the coil on the patient. It then sends the signal to the reconstructor via fiber-optic cable, for lossless broadband data transmission. With SmartPath to dStream, you’ll benefit from an SNR that equals that of Ingenia, as well as dS SENSE parallel imaging, for outstanding image quality and speed.

FlexCoverage Posterior coil

Integrated underneath the tabletop, the FlexCoverage Posterior coil is the answer for about 60% of your routine applications, providing neck-to-toe coverage, head-or-feet first, without coil handling or positioning. The posterior coil combines effortlesly with other dStream coils for large coverage, and fast and easy patient setup.

FlexCoverage Anterior coil

By combining the lightweight FlexCoverage Anterior coil with the Posterior coil, you can image anatomies from above the shoulder to the toe. Due to its unique design, it conforms comfortably to the patient’s body shape, allowing fast and easy
positioning.

dS HeadNeckSpine

The integrated dS HeadNeckSpine coil solution expands the field of view to 200 cm. It simply clicks to the digital table, allowing fewer steps in patient set up and less connectors.

FlexCaddy coil storage cart

If other dStream coils are required, you can choose from a variety of coil solutions. Additional coils can be stored in the optional FlexCaddy coil storage cart, readily available at the table-side.

FlexConnect connection

FlexConnect enables single-handed coil connections as well as auto-eject for easy table undocking.

FlexTrak Patient Transport System

FlexTrak dockable patient transport system provides simplified patient preparation, handling, and transportation from the preparation room to the MR scanner, as well as easy exam set up.

Courtesy: Philips Healthcare