Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the field of medical imaging, offering unparalleled insights into the human body’s inner workings. The advanced technologies of MRI machines help give you the power to explore new horizons in imaging. Among the various imaging systems available, the 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) MRI scanner holds a special place in clinical practice.
In 20XX, Catalyst introduced the first 1.5 Tesla MRI in Kothari Medical Services, Kolkata. Our center is equipped with Philips dStream Achieva 1.5T MRI, and all MR examinations, including ultrafast sub-second scans, are routinely performed.
Powered by the breakthrough dStream architecture, the digital 1.5T brings MR signal digitization where it has never been before – in the RF coil, as close to the patient as possible. dStream unleashes the power of digitization by delivering a high purity MR signal for increased SNR1, combined with enhanced workflow and ease of use for greater efficiency in your daily operations.
System with dStream is designed for SNR gains of up to 40%, which you can use to increase image quality and exam speed Better, more consistent image quality for all applications pairs with clinical versatility to expand into new areas such as body/oncology, in a wide aperture system that promotes excellent patient comfort. And productivity is enhanced with every feature of the ds Acheiva , with automation where it makes sense, and fat-free and motion-free imaging to elevate image quality.
Patient Comfort: Prodiva has the Lowest Tunnel Length of 60 cm in 1.5T MRI Segment. Lowest Tunnel is Preferred for Claustrophobic Patient for Better Comfort. A flared bore at the front and rear for increased patient comfort during chest and abdominal scan.
Homogeneity: Best-in-class magnet homogeneity for excellent image quality, off-center imaging and fat suppression.
Gradient: Peak amplitude 33 mT/m, slew rate 120 T/m/s. Excellent linearity over the entire FOV for seamless multi-station studies
dS-SENSE: Next generation parallel imaging for the dStream helps to enhanced parallel imaging performance.
Auto Voice: With AutoVoice the patient is coached through the MR examination with voice audio information to the patient on length of scan, breath hold and table movement. Multiple languages can be selected.
ComfortTone: ComforTone is a scan technique that brings noise reduction on all the sequences. ComforTone ExamCards will be available for routine exams (Brain, Spine, MSK). Up to 80% acoustic noise reduction with Comfortone.
Neuro Pro – ScanTools Neuro provides high-quality, high-resolution neuro imaging solutions for assessment of morphology in the brain, head/neck, and spine.
MSK Pro – ScanTools MSK provides high-resolution, fast orthopedic imaging, for assessment of morphology in the extremities and joints.
Body and Breast Pro – ScanTools Body designed for fast, high-resolution scan methods for abdomen, breast, pelvis, and prostate imaging.
Cardiac and MRA Pro – ScanTools CardioVascular is designed for high-quality vascular imaging, and supports assessment of cardiac morphology and functional studies of the heart and surrounding vessels.
ScanWise Implant – ScanWise Implant is a user interface with guidance. It allows you to enter the implant’s MR Conditional values only once and as specified by the implant manufacturer. It will automatically adjust all scan and pre-scan parameters to meet the implant conditional values entered by the operator.
Functional MRI
Functional MRI (MRI) measures signal changes in the brain that are due to changing neural activity and is also referred to as BOLD imaging (Blood oxygen level dependent).
A person’s brain is scanned while he or she is performing a certain physical task, such as squeezing a ball or looking at a particular type of picture. When the neural activity is increased, there is an increase in oxygen demand, and the vascular system actually overcompensates for this, increasing the amount of oxygenated haemoglobin relative to deoxygenated haemoglobin.
Such techniques are being used in pre-surgical planning and in basic neuroscience research in areas such as memory, expressive and receptive speech, visual-spatial processing, and other cognitive processes.
Diffusion MRI
Diffusion-weighted images are very commonly used in the assessment of acute stroke and are also widely used in oncology.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging, also known as MR Tractography non-invasively maps white matter tracts. Diffusion parallel to nerve fibers has been shown to be greater than diffusion in the perpendicular direction. This provides a powerful tool to study in vivo fiber connectivity in the brain in a non-invasive manner and preoperative planning of resectability of brain tumors. The application of this technique to stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and pediatric brain development is being investigated.
MR angiography is used to generate pictures of the arteries to detect any abnormal narrowing/dilatation or abnormal arterio-venous connections. MR angiography is often used to evaluate the arteries of the neck and brain, the thoracic and renal arteries, and the arteries of the legs. Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV) is a similar procedure used to image veins.
MR spectroscopy is a non-invasive method for providing metabolic information about the brain. MR spectroscopy enables tissue characterization on a biochemical level that surpasses conventional MR imaging. MR spectroscopy also detects abnormalities that are invisible to conventional MRI because metabolic abnormalities often precede structural changes.
MR defecography is a technique to study disorders of ano-rectal function. It is indicated in patients having constipation, rectal incontinence, painful defection and rectal prolapse. It permits analysis of the ano-rectal angle, the opening of the anal canal, the function of the puborectalis muscle, and the descent of the pelvic floor during defecation. It provides a good demonstration of the rectal wall, intussusception, enteroceles and rectoceles, along with an excellent demonstration of the perirectal soft tissue. It allows the assessment of spastic pelvic floor syndrome and descending perineum syndrome. No radiation hazard is associated with this procedure, as there was with fluoroscopic x-ray defecography. Images are obtained with the patient at rest, at maximal sphincter contraction, during straining, and during defection.
Although X-ray Mammography remains the primary imaging modality in the evaluation of breast disease, the mammogram can at times be inconclusive for the presence or location of an abnormality. MR imaging has been used as an adjunct to mammography, particularly for patients with equivocal mammographic findings. The main advantage of breast MR imaging is its high sensitivity, with reported sensitivities for cancer ranging from 91% to 100% with varying specificity. Multiple investigators have shown that MR mammography may be useful to verify the multifocality and multicentricity of breast cancer, differentiating scars from recurrences after breast-conserving therapy, screening high-risk groups who have a family history of breast cancer, investigating breast implants, examining breasts in cases of histologically proven breast cancer, and detecting metastases from an unknown primary.