New MRI technology improves imaging of metallic joint replacements

New technology out of the Medical College of Wisconsin promises to improve MR imaging of total joint replacements. 

MR imaging of anatomy with metallic implants has historically been of lesser quality due to the artifacts created by metal. MCW has developed technology that provides more detailed images of these areas—joint replacements in particular—to offer greater insight into the tissue surrounding implant. 

The technology—HyperMAVRIC SL—is so promising that it is now being integrated into GE Healthcare’s MRI scanners so that providers can conduct more thorough evaluations of how these implants hold up over time. Metallic joint replacements can occasionally deteriorate and fail, resulting in particulate debris rubbing against bone and causing significant discomfort for patients. 

Considering the aging population and increasing number of patients opting for joint replacement surgery, the novel imaging protocol and reconstruction technique stands to positively impact these outcomes, Jason Polzin, General Manager of MR Applications Platform and Research Technologies at GE HealthCare, said in a statement on the collaboration. 

"The growing number of joint replacement procedures and orthopedic metallic implants underscores the necessity for advanced imaging solutions that can keep pace with clinical demands," Polzin said. "The initial innovation of MAVRIC (multi-acquisition variable resonance image combination) revolutionized MR imaging around metallic implants. And the technology behind HyperMAVRIC not only enhances workflow efficiency by reducing scanning time by identifying and then tailoring the acquisition to the patient's implant material, but also improves quality of images in the presence of metal implants." 

Director of the Center for Imaging Research at MCW, Kevin Koch, PhD, spearheaded the research built on the team’s MAVRIC technology. He also worked alongside GE directly to integrate HyperMAVRIC SL into the health giant’s scanners. Koch said the ability to accurately visualize the areas around metallic implants is “no longer a luxury but a necessity in modern medicine.” 

"HyperMAVRIC offers a solution that not only addresses current clinical needs, but also opens the door to future advancements in imaging technology, ensuring we can continue to improve patient care in the years to come,” Koch said in the same release. 

Learn more about the collaboration here.