Hospital talks of success using TAMS high performance MRI scanner

Toshiba America Medical Systems' Ultra magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system has improved the quality of patient care and delivered faster scanning times at Associates of Radiology, Plattsburg, N.Y.

Ultra is a whole body open MRI system that is equipped with an MRI gradient field technology featuring 25 milli-Tesla per meter amplitude along with a 100 Tesla per meter slew rate. With this slew rate, the Ultra's gradient speed facilitates higher resolution imaging with thinner slices, smaller fields-of-view and faster scanning.

Toshiba's Ultra is designed to handle a full-range of diagnostic procedures, including routine neurology, body and musculoskeletal, as well as the more advanced neurofunctional and cardiovascular studies.

"I have no hesitation using the Ultra to perform many of the more advanced MRI sequences, such as MRAs (magnetic resonance angiography)," said Curt Snyder, MD, president of Associates of Radiology and chief of Department of Radiology, CVPH Medical Center. "In the past, it was difficult to obtain good quality abdominal imaging on an open system. I do not have any problem imaging the liver, adrenal glands or kidneys."

The faster scanning time of the system has also helped to attract more patients. "We've also been able to more easily perform exams on some extremely claustrophobic patients," added Snyder. "The fact that the system is extremely fast and that it is designed with all four sides open makes a big difference to these patients."

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