New MR Tool Designed for Imaging Soft Tissues Near Metal

A new application has been developed to address the growing clinical need for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) near metal, as more patients require primary and surgical replacement of joint implants due to complications.

GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, UK) have recently developed Mavric SL, an MRI tool for imaging the joints of patients with metallic implants, in response to a growing clinical need for assessing soft tissues in the vicinity of arthroplasty and metallic instrumentation.

“The ability of MR to image tissues adjacent to metal implants and fixation hardware is significantly hampered by severe image artifacts,” said Jacques Coumans, general manager of Premium MR at GE Healthcare. “Mavric SL is designed to help reduce these artifacts as the number of procedures requiring MR imaging near metal continues to grow.”

Between 1990 and 2002, the number of primary arthroplasty procedures in the United States increased by 62% for total hip replacements and by 195% for total knee replacements. Over the same time period, the number of revision procedures (surgical replacement of problematic joint prostheses) increased by 79% for hips and 192% for knees. The necessity for arthroplasty revision is accelerating significantly due to the increased frequency of primary arthroplasty procedures and the younger ages at which these procedures are being performed. It is estimated that by 2030, arthroplasty revisions in the United States will increase from 2005 levels by 137% for hips and 601% for knees.

Combining acquisition and reconstruction techniques, Mavric SL--developed and evaluated in close collaboration with Stanford University (Stanford, CA, USA) and Hospital for Special Surgery (New York, NY, USA)--is intended to help reduce artifacts caused by the presence of metal in both in-plane and through-plane dimensions compared to conventional MR imaging techniques. Images generated by Mavric SL provide data that may be useful in helping clinicians to image tissue adjacent to the metal instrumentation and take action to correct complications from joint implants.

Mavric SL is intended for use on GE 1.5 T and 3.0 T MR systems; it is pending US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510k clearance, and not available for marketing in the United States.

Related Links:
GE Healthcare
Stanford University
Hospital for Special Surgery