Hitachi Medical Systems received FDA clearance for its Echelon Oval 1.5T Ultra-Wide MR system. The Echelon Oval has a bore that is, as the name implies, oval-shaped, very much unlike conventional MRI systems which have a round bore. The opening is 65cm high and 74cm wide, accommodating even the largest patients and reducing feelings of claustrophobia. When the spine coil is used, this results in approximately 40% more examination space compared to conventional MRI systems.
Looking further than just the shape and size of the bore, the Echelon Oval’s imaging capabilities include non-contrast MRA, isotropic image acquisition and robust fat suppression. It features Hitachi’s Workflow Integrated Technology (WIT) suite which includes an integrated coil system and a wide mobile table.
Here’s a Hitachi rep at RSNA 2011 presenting the Echelon Oval:
Press release: Echelon Oval…
Product page: Hitachi Receives FDA Clearance for Widest Bore 1.5T MR System…