Siemens Introduces First 1.5 Tesla MRI Platform with Virtually Helium-Free Technology
Posted on 29 Feb 2024
At ECR 2024 in Vienna, Siemens Healthineers (Erlangen, Germany) is presenting Magnetom Flow, its first 1.5 tesla (T) platform for magnetic resonance imaging with a closed helium circuit and no quench pipe. The amount of liquid helium required for cooling has been reduced to 0.7 liters from as much as 1,500 liters thanks to the Dry Cool technology, bringing down costs and saving resources. The quench pipe was previously needed to safely allow cold helium to escape from the building directly into the atmosphere in the event of an emergency shutdown. The new system with a bore size of 60 cm covers the entire range of applications for MRI. Comprehensive use of image reconstruction based on artificial intelligence enables shorter measurement times with improved image quality. Magnetom Flow’s high degree of automation simplifies the complex MRI workflow to ensure the highest quality independently of user experience and increases efficiency.
Magnetom Flow is the second virtually helium-free MRI platform from Siemens with Dry Cool technology. The company has set itself the goal of making an important contribution to greater sustainability in the healthcare sector in the coming years with this and other technologies. As well as using significantly fewer natural resources such as helium, Magnetom Flow considerably reduces energy consumption. With the help of the improved Eco Gradient Mode, the system automatically switches off energy-intensive components when they are not needed. And thanks to the introduction of Eco Power Mode in combination with helium-free technology, it is possible to save a further 30% in cooling capacity overnight. This makes Magnetom Flow one of the most sustainable MRI platforms from Siemens.
Compared to many other 1.5T scanners, Magnetom Flow reduces installation requirements and costs thanks to its compact size of less than two meters in height, 24 square meters in footprint and the lack of a quench pipe. Conventional systems are so large and heavy that it is often only possible to install them in existing buildings with considerable and costly structural alterations. In clinical practice, Magnetom Flow can significantly reduce patient slot times and improve the patient experience thanks to its intuitive and highly automated design. The entire operation can now be carried out next to the patient – from registration to positioning to starting the examination. This saves time and can give patients peace of mind. In addition, the coils, which flexibly adapt to the body like a blanket, feature novel sensors to enable automatic position detection in the exam room. To keep examination times short and improve image quality, the system is equipped with extensive AI-supported image reconstruction. This is available for more examinations than before with Magnetom Flow. Measurement times can be reduced by up to 50%, while image quality is doubled. In combination with simplified workflows, overall patient throughput can be increased significantly.
“The world's population is growing and with it the need for MRI exams. However, the simultaneous rise in cost pressure and lack of personnel make it difficult to operate MRI economically,” said Andreas Schneck, head of Magnetic Resonance at Siemens Healthineers. “The Magnetom Flow platform provides the answer to the challenges facing healthcare systems. It increases productivity in routine clinical practice due to its high degree of automation and makes a decisive contribution to sustainability with the Dry Cool technology.”
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