GE names new MRI executives

GE Medical Systems of Milwaukee has made several changes to theexecutive line-up of its MRI division. Morry Blumenfeld has beennamed general manager of advanced MR development. Blumenfeld willoversee GE's MR-guided surgery effort and will manage programson special-purpose MRI systems, new magnet configurations, andnew clinical applications. Blumenfeld previously oversaw GE'sdevelopment of its 0.5-tesla open interventional MRI scanner.

In addition to Blumenfeld's appointment, GE has named YoshiakiFujimori as global general manager of GE's MRI business, replacingNobuhiko Ito. Fujimori previously headed GE's global CT business.

In other GE news, the vendor said that it has signed an agreementwith Opgal Optronic Industries of Karmiel, Israel, that givesGE distribution and service rights to a new line of cardiac imagingequipment. The products will be used by cardiac surgeons to makesure that grafted blood vessels used in bypass operations arefunctioning properly before open heart surgery is performed.