Otsuka renames MRI scanner

Otsuka Electronics has given its low-costMRI scanner a new name to go along with many other changes atthe Fort Collins, CO, vendor. The OE 1.5 SI -- one of the lessmemorable names in the industry's history -- has been rechristenedOracle, according Dan Williams, product marketing manager. Otsukais re-introducing the 1.5-tesla scanner along with the announcementof its new name.

"Things have changed a lot since we introduced the product,"Williams said. "The scanner is full-featured, as opposedto the niche scanner we introduced initially."

Otsuka won Food and Drug Administration clearance of the newconfiguration of the scanner in December. The company has begunmarketing the unit in the U.S. and signed a distribution agreementwith Kontron Instruments of France for the European market (SCAN1/19/94).

Williams claimed an installed base of four for the Oracle.A system was recently installed at the Space Coast OrthopedicCenter in Merritt Island, FL. Installations are pending at twoother Florida outpatient imaging services, Williams said.