Siemens will introduce a compact 1-tesla MRI scanner next weekat the Society for Magnetic Resonance Imaging meeting in Chicago.The vendor claims its new offering will fit in more places thanmost mid-field scanners. The space requirement for the
Siemens will introduce a compact 1-tesla MRI scanner next weekat the Society for Magnetic Resonance Imaging meeting in Chicago.The vendor claims its new offering will fit in more places thanmost mid-field scanners.
The space requirement for the actively shielded system, labeledMagnetom Impact, is 450 square feet, down from over 750 squarefeet for Siemens' existing 1-tesla unit, said Chris Ruebeck, MRIproduct manager.
Trimmer siting specifications have been achieved partiallythrough the use of a modified active-shield magnet design fromOxford, Siemens' majority-controlled magnet supplier. Siemenshas also made overall design changes in the system, such as reducingthe number of computer/electronics cabinets from five to three,he said.
The active-shield magnet was formerly offered as an optionfor the 1-tesla Magnetom, at an additional cost of about $125,000.That feature is now standard on the Impact, offsetting a slightlyhigher overall price, Ruebeck said.
Hospital customers have proved willing to spend more to gainthe better image quality of a high-field versus mid-field MRIsystem. Unfortunately, greater siting costs combined with thehigher ticket price of a 1-tesla system often pushed the overallcost too high, he said.
MRI costs are reduced when less hospital space is needed foran installation. Siemens has also cut its installation time forthe Impact to about four weeks, compared to an industry averageof six to eight weeks. Impact's lighter weight trims structuralreinforcement requirements as well, he said.
In addition to cost concerns, the proliferation of MRI systemshas resulted in more requests by hospitals to fit scanners intotighter spaces, Ruebeck said.
Siemens' goal for the Impact was to reduce the space requirementfor Impact below that of major mid-field MRI competitors, Ruebecksaid. Both GE's MR Max and Philips' T5 require more space, hesaid.
Stay at the forefront of radiology with the Diagnostic Imaging newsletter, delivering the latest news, clinical insights, and imaging advancements for today’s radiologists.
The Reading Room Podcast: A Closer Look at Remote MRI Safety, Part 2
July 25th 2025In the second of a multi-part podcast episode, Emanuel Kanal, M.D. and Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, share their perspectives on remote MRI safety protocols for ensuring screening accuracy and adherence to conditional implant guidelines as well as a rapid and effective response to adverse events.
The Reading Room Podcast: Current and Emerging Insights on Abbreviated Breast MRI, Part 2
July 23rd 2025In the second part of a multi-part podcast episode, Stamatia Destounis, MD, Emily Conant, MD and Habib Rahbar, MD, discuss key sequences for abbreviated breast MRI and how it stacks up to other breast cancer screening modalities.
Chest CT for Post-COVID-19 Abnormalities: Nine Takeaways from a Multi-Society Consensus Statement
July 22nd 2025Developed by 21 thoracic radiologists, the new international consensus statement addresses appropriate indications, scan acquisition and keys to reporting for the use of chest CT imaging in evaluating for residual lung abnormalities from COVID-19.