GE spotlights MR success, new coils, visualization tools
GE Healthcare emphasized the gains it has made within the MR market, with 13,000 magnets currently installed, and 300 3T systems in utilization currently. As for new technology, GE Healthcare introduced a non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method to assess articular cartilage integrity at RSNA 2006 in Chicago. CartiGram is an optional application available the company’s Signa HDx platform, and allows clinicians to non-invasively visualize collagen fiber degradation. CartiGram is primarily used to detect changes in cartilage composition at early stages, often times resulting in more treatment options for the patient to non-invasively monitor the progression of those changes, optimizing the timing of surgical procedures and the assessment of the success of surgical repair of cartilage.  

GE also highlighted its Signa High-Density (HD) Head-Neck-Spine MR imaging array which enables users to scan multiple neurology patients or perform series of exams on a single patient without changing coils, shortening procedure time without compromising image quality. The system uses radio frequency technology and an advanced patient- and user-friendly design that places the highest density of coil elements in the imaging field of view to maximize image quality. With 29 elements and 16 channel outputs, the array covers the patient’s upper entire body with a single coil, providing high-density signals that directly contribute to optimal and uniform image quality in brain, neck and spine images.  The phased array technology provides higher signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio and capability for parallel imaging, which speeds up scanning.
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