Siemens installs India’s first new generation 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner at Scans World, Chennai

Increasing number of radiologists in India are beginning to realize the huge potential of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Siemens’ Tim (Total imaging matrix) technology based MRI systems have enabled radiologists to have a holistic understanding of the patient’s disease condition in a significantly shorter time. Though radiologists can witness ever growing clinical applications in MRI scanners, they are still handicapped because of the very low installed base of these scanners in India. Currently in India, there is not even one MRI system per million population, whereas as per the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is an international organization to stimulate economic progress, the average for OECD countries is close to 15 MRI scanners per million population. 

To address this huge gap, Siemens Healthcare over the last several years has been consistently introducing new and innovative solutions in MRI. Continuing with this tradition, Siemens has now introduced MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T MRI system that comes with Siemens’ unique 4th generation Tim technology called Tim 4G. Tim 4G offers an innovative radiofrequency (RF) system as well as an all-new ultra-high density coil architecture. This new coil system packs more coil elements into a smaller space (204 coil elements that utilize up to 48 channels), which provides the physician with enough channels to support imaging, offering high resolution image quality while scanning the patient. In conventional systems, the availability of 102 coil elements with maximum 32 channels limited the scanning speed. In addition, Tim 4G also provides high signal-to-noise ratio and high processing speed, which improves the productivity of the scanner even further. Moreover, without coil or patient repositioning, Tim allows coverage of the whole patient body (up to 145 cm) to smallest details. Tim 4G has completely enhanced the whole body scanning process by providing the combination of faster scanning and high resolution image quality.

Today’s healthcare environment is increasingly faced with less staff, less reimbursement and less time. In view of that, Siemens developed the Day optimizing throughput (Dot) engine, which multiplies the power of Tim technology, resulting in greater image consistency, improved diagnostic confidence, better ease of operating the machine and increased productivity by 30% everyday across the entire MRI workflow. With the combination of Tim and Dot, consistent, robust images can be achieved by automating examinations, as well as personalizing each scan for virtually every patient. In conventional systems, the planning of a scanning process was tedious and time consuming. Also, lack of experience among the technical staff in handling MRI systems, usually affected the quality of the image. With Dot engine, personalized, high-quality examinations can be easily reproduced, even when conditions change, further helping the physician and the technical staff to provide more effective patient care.

On this occasion, Mr. D Ragavan, Country Head, Siemens Healthcare and Head-Health Imaging and Therapy, APAC Region said, “Siemens has gained a clear market leadership position in the Indian MRI scanners segment by introducing new and innovative MRI platforms for the last several years. MAGNETOM Aera is another example of Siemens bringing innovative solution to provide quality healthcare in India. Our Tim technology based MRI scanners are already well known for offering higher diagnostic confidence, lower scanning time and increasing patient comfort. With MAGNETOM Aera, we are raising the bar even further for the higher end spectrum of the 1.5T MRI segment. We are very delighted that Scans World has now installed this latest and unique technology within the reach of patients in and around Chennai.”

Dr. Philson J Mukkada, Managing Director, Scans World commented, “At Scans World, we have installed the best and most hi-end machines with advanced software to aid better diagnostic capabilities. By installing MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T, the world’s most advanced MRI machine, we aim at providing world-class imaging service at affordable rates to enable our own population to receive the benefits of international standard diagnostic services.”

MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T MRI system comes with intelligent automated workflows customized to the user’s standards, wherein scans are completed faster and with more ease, also with less chance of errors or repeats. The scanner also comes with a 70 cm open-bore design that can accommodate a large variety of patient sizes, shapes and conditions. The friendly and open appearance helps to reduce sedation rates, minimizes stress for claustrophobic patients and leads to higher throughput and more referrals.

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 48,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2010 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.4 billion Euros and profit of around 750 million Euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.