Don't misunderstand me. PET is great technology and so is MRI. If you have both machines and they're down the hall from each other, that should suffice very nicely. They don't need to be together on a single unit that will sell for $3 million or more.
PET/MR Machines – A Comparison
PET/MR Machines – A Comparison
June 13, 2011
Three imaging companies have produced PET/MR technology that are either in the works, or commercially available. Here they are, at a glance:
SIEMENS HEALTHCARE BIOGRAPH MMR
How it works: PET and MR technology is housed in one device, providing a single image. A PET ring detector fits inside a 3T magnet combine, simultaneously acquiring MR anatomical data and PET functional data.
Features: patient only gets scanned once
Claims: Can scan the body in 30 minutes (versus one hour or more for sequential exams). Touts speed, lower radiation dose and greater anatomical data.
Space needed: one room
Available in U.S.? Yes, FDA approval on June 10, 2011
PHILIPS INGENUITY TF SYSTEM
How it works: Places MR and PET scanners almost 10 feet apart, with the patient table in the middle. The table rotates so the patient will be scanned in the exact same position in each machine sequentially. Data are merged via specialized software.
Features: The PET and MR machines can also work independently.
Claims: industry’s first commercially available whole body PET/MR imaging system. Also claims to produce up to 70 percent less ionizing radiation than the PET/CT.
Space needed: one room
Available in the U.S.? No, but it received its European CE Mark in January, 2011
Demonstration:
GE PET/CT + MRI
How it works: combines the data, not the equipment. MR and PET exams are performed sequentially, with a shared patient transport gurney system. Patient remains in same position on the table, moving between rooms/devices. After sequential exams, the GE system merges the data set.
Features: Can also use PET/CT and MRI independently.
Company claims: a financially responsible solution
Available in U.S.? Yes
Space needed: two rooms
Demonstration
While it is great to have major medical imaging companies attempting to address the long-standing demand for reduction of harmful radiation of patients, 'low' is a relative term, not absolute. What is needed is absolutely zero harmful radiation. Ideally added to this, zero contrasting dyes and other internally injected substances and devices.
Impossible? Unachieivable? Not at all. A new imaging technology is already proving color, zero radiation, zero injected substances or devices. In fact, the patient can even be mobile during the imaging and the patient can take the images themselves as a photo or video leading to drastic cost-reduction and unilateral ease of use. The initial results are extremely encouraging and more information about the technology called ASTIR 4D Imaging can be seen at the website http://mycolourxray.akiwumi.net .
IASTIR is not an immediate total replacement for X-Ray/MRI/CT traditional types of radiology technology but it's the future which can already be utilized from now in parallel in certain cases benefiting from costs and radiation savings.
Impossible? Unachieivable? Not at all. A new imaging technology is already proving color, zero radiation, zero injected substances or devices. In fact, the patient can even be mobile during the imaging and the patient can take the images themselves as a photo or video leading to drastic cost-reduction and unilateral ease of use. The initial results are extremely encouraging and more information about the technology called ASTIR 4D Imaging can be seen at the website http://mycolourxray.akiwumi.net .
IASTIR is not an immediate total replacement for X-Ray/MRI/CT traditional types of radiology technology but it's the future which can already be utilized from now in parallel in certain cases benefiting from costs and radiation savings.
hi every body .
any one can help me to say about the PET scan . i want to know the cost of the machine . i am from nepal . so let me know where i can get it easily . nirajsmiles@gmail.com
any one can help me to say about the PET scan . i want to know the cost of the machine . i am from nepal . so let me know where i can get it easily . nirajsmiles@gmail.com
A ridiculous idea. Who needs it? It's just one more scam by the vendors to try and get us to spends millions for the latest toy. And unfortunately many of us will go along with it, like sheep
Disagree with David Levin,
To me it is clear that multifunctional imaging will becoming an important means for biological investigation because of its multidimensional (multispectral, multispatial and temporally resolved) nature. By combining the information derived from a number of techniques, it is possible to build a unique, multi-faceted phenotypic view of tumors thus allowing improved characterization. Monitoring changes with multiparametric imaging can provide invaluable information on the in-vivo mechanisms of action of therapeutics and so be of use in drug development - drug development is likely to be an early adopted of this technology and payment will be forthcoming. However, multifunctional PET-MR imaging is to take up the unique position of enhancing decision-making at critical milestones in the early phases of the drug development process, then procedural rigor will be needed to establish each biomarker and/or biomarker combination for such a role. The key issue for reembursement will be finding a killer clinical application for this technology. This we await.
To me it is clear that multifunctional imaging will becoming an important means for biological investigation because of its multidimensional (multispectral, multispatial and temporally resolved) nature. By combining the information derived from a number of techniques, it is possible to build a unique, multi-faceted phenotypic view of tumors thus allowing improved characterization. Monitoring changes with multiparametric imaging can provide invaluable information on the in-vivo mechanisms of action of therapeutics and so be of use in drug development - drug development is likely to be an early adopted of this technology and payment will be forthcoming. However, multifunctional PET-MR imaging is to take up the unique position of enhancing decision-making at critical milestones in the early phases of the drug development process, then procedural rigor will be needed to establish each biomarker and/or biomarker combination for such a role. The key issue for reembursement will be finding a killer clinical application for this technology. This we await.
If the MRI is spatially accurate, it would be a real boon to radiation therapy treatment planning, particularly in prostate and GYN. It would be a useful tool for image-based brachytherapy. Bore diameter will be an issue.
I'd like to correct an error in this article. The Philips Ingenuity PET MR is available in the United States.
510(K) Number K103483
Decision date: 11/23/2011
Device Classification Name:
Tomographic Imager combining Emission Computed Tomography with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Readers may wish to check the FDA website http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPMN/pmn.cfm to see if all three mentioned vendors have current 510(K) approval.
510(K) Number K103483
Decision date: 11/23/2011
Device Classification Name:
Tomographic Imager combining Emission Computed Tomography with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Readers may wish to check the FDA website http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPMN/pmn.cfm to see if all three mentioned vendors have current 510(K) approval.
Siemens Biograph MR PET system is the Best in the features and the perfect and most suited solution as MR PET.