Technology
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IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON MRI
In the medical world, technology is very important and advances in technology have improved the quality and quantity of medical devices. The MRI technology is rapidly evolving over time, where new system designs that produce better image quality are introduced. New scanning methods further improves imaging standards of practice.
After thirty years of through research and development, the MRI technology has matured and the pace of technological changes introduced to the marketplace has decreased. However, recently the medical equipment manufacturing industry introduced new lines of MRI systems that are very robust which is a significant improvement over the current methods. The new systems may cause a paradigm shift in MRI practices as they allow results to be obtained quickly and precisely.
With improvements in technology, MRI is able to rapidly develop since its introduction as a clinical tool in the early 1980s. Widespread use of 3T MRI scanners is extremely beneficial in diagnosing diseases. Future developments in coil technology and new image contrasts may continue to provide new tools for clinical diagnosis in the near future. Other alternatives include: open MRI and Wide-bore MRI.
After thirty years of through research and development, the MRI technology has matured and the pace of technological changes introduced to the marketplace has decreased. However, recently the medical equipment manufacturing industry introduced new lines of MRI systems that are very robust which is a significant improvement over the current methods. The new systems may cause a paradigm shift in MRI practices as they allow results to be obtained quickly and precisely.
With improvements in technology, MRI is able to rapidly develop since its introduction as a clinical tool in the early 1980s. Widespread use of 3T MRI scanners is extremely beneficial in diagnosing diseases. Future developments in coil technology and new image contrasts may continue to provide new tools for clinical diagnosis in the near future. Other alternatives include: open MRI and Wide-bore MRI.
Typically, an open MRI will have two flat magnets positioned over-and-under with a large space between them for the patient to lay in. This configuration keeps the space open on two sides and alleviates much of the claustrophobia many patients experience.
Among these systems are generally .2T and .3T magnets with a few systems as high as .7 or even 1.0T. The clarity in this magnetic range is not as great as closed-bore MRI, but for sites frequently performing the right studies, an open MRI can be the perfect balance of imaging need, capital cost, and patient comfort. |
Most closed-bore MRI systems have a 60 cm bore. Several manufacturers have introduced “wide-bore” systems into this higher-field magnet category. While these systems don’t create a wider field of view, they do create a more comfortable atmosphere for the patient.
An example would be the GE MR 450W, had a 70 cm Bore. |