Introduction
Coil Technology
MAGNETOM Free.Star is equipped with state-of-the-art coil technology. The Head&Neck and Fixed Spine Array provide excellent coverage, image quality, and patient comfort for neuroimaging. The Contour coils, designed to be lightweight, aim to enhance patient comfort and facilitate quick positioning.to enhance patient comfort and facilitate quick positioning.
Workflow
Patient positioning plays a crucial role in increasing throughput. The user-friendly coils and AI-powered Select&GO enable straightforward and automated patient positioning. In most examinations, patient positioning can be accomplished in 1-2 minutes. During scanning, the myExam autopilot empowers the radiographer to handle multiple tasks, allowing a single person to manage the scanner efficiently.
Image Quality
MRI images should exhibit diagnostic quality with an adequate signal-to-noise ratio, good in-plane and through-plane resolution, and the ability to capture potential pathologies without omission. MAGNETOM Free.Star incorporates the latest AI-based image reconstruction technology, known as Deep Resolve, ensuring sufficient SNR and image resolution. This technology maintains a reasonable scan time through optimal acceleration across various body regions.
Brain Examinations
A routine brain examination typically comprises transverse T2-weighted (T2W), T1W, T2FLAIR, GRE, and diffusion-weighted (DWI) sequences. DWI holds significant importance in pathologies like strokes and tumors. High-field scanners often encounter artifacts in air-tissue interfaces, posterior fossa, and temporal regions during DWI. The MAGNETOM Free.Star distinguishes itself with the ability to produce exceptional DWI images with fewer artifacts, proving valuable for lesion evaluation in the skull base and temporal areas.
The unique features of the MAGNETOM Free.Star is its ability to produce excellent DWI images with fewer artifacts. This is helpful for the evaluation of lesions in the skull base and temporal areas.
Spine Examinations
Routine spine examinations consist of sagittal T2W, T1W, and STIR images, along with axial T2W and T1W images. When necessary, additional sagittal T2W images from various regions are acquired for comprehensive whole spine screening.
Inline composing ensures automated and rapid composition of the entire spine images. The distinctive field strength of MAGNETOM Free.Star delivers excellent contrast between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the spinal cord in T1W images.
The Fixed Spine Array coil, combined with Deep Resolve, guarantees sufficient imaging quality for complete spine examinations.
MSK Examinations
A routine spine examination includes sagittal Proton Density with Fat Saturation (PD FS) images in all three planes and T1-weighted (T1W) images in the coronal plane.
The combination of Contour coils and Deep Resolve provides excellent diagnostic quality in minimal scan times.
The usage of dedicated musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging accessories offers maximum patient comfort throughout the examination.
Body Imaging
The unique high-field MRI strength delivers body examinations with reduced flow artifacts and susceptibility.
A few highlights include DWI imaging of the liver with less susceptibility and T2-weighted images of the female pelvis with reduced flow artifacts, among others.
We were also able to perform complete body examinations, including dynamic imaging using the VIBE sequences and MRCP.
Conclusion
The MAGNETOM Free.Star stands out as a reliable and diagnostically confident solution in radiology. Its versatility extends beyond routine scans to encompass challenging scenarios, including imaging metal implants and screening lung parenchyma.
The amalgamation of its distinctive field strength, cutting-edge hardware technologies, and the latest software solutions positions MAGNETOM Free.Star as an exceptional MRI solution. With a patient bore of 60 cm, it incorporates technological innovations from the new High-V MRI platform, boasting a field strength of 0.55 Tesla that proves highly diagnostically valuable.
The integration of AI-based reconstruction algorithms, such as Deep Resolve Sharp, elevates image quality to levels previously achievable only with higher field strengths. Noteworthy in clinical applications, particularly in implant and lung imaging, underscore the system’s broad utility. Digital innovations like myExam Companion further enhance accessibility, making the scanner user-friendly even for less experienced operators.
MAGNETOM Free.Star emerges as a pivotal pillar in expanding access to care, offering advanced capabilities that contribute to improved diagnostics and patient outcomes.
Contact
Alazhar University, Egypt
First Scan Radiology Center, Alexandria, Egypt