!109004 syngo Hot Topics_4.qxd

MRI Hot Topics
Efficiency at Your Fingertips
s
medical
Efficiency at Your Fingertips
MR Intelligence, Technology, and Workflow
Milind D. Dhamankar, MD
Introduction
The past decade has seen a huge increase in the
number of MR facilities, the range of scanning
techniques and the prevalence of new applications.
It has become a challenge to attract qualified,
new staff and keep your current star performers
satisfied and up to date.
interdependence to avoid conflicts and guarantees
consistent high-quality images. The software is
extremely flexible and provides the user with
adequate opportunity to produce customized
results while exploiting the system’s potential.
Advanced Workflow User Interface
The Advanced Workflow Feature structures the
Exam task card in a way that provides all tools
necessary for tailored MR image acquisition. The
interface also allows the user to instantaneously
see either the acquired images or images that have
been automatically processed, such as subtracted
or MIP’ed. Image stamps, physiological signals such
as ECG, the online movie window, and automatic
cine display are a few examples that illustrate the
detailed ergonomic considerations provided by the
syngo MR software.
Siemens has brought intelligence to MR that
not only expands the range of available clinical
applications, but also makes MAGNETOM
systems faster and easier to use. Siemens has
revolutionized RF technology with Tim (Total
imaging matrix) and has incorporated smart
software in every system through features
like syngo MR, Phoenix, Inline Technology
and AutoAlign, which help streamline your
workflow from registration to reporting.
syngo MR
Working with a syngo-based MAGNETOM system
is an enjoyable experience. The straightforward
user interface (UI) makes you feel right
at home with great similarity to
Microsoft® Windows®. “Cut and paste”
simplicity, and easy-to-understand icons let you
perform complex tasks with a single mouse-click,
thanks to the efficient programs supported by the
software. syngo is the only common multi-modality
software in the medical industry—which means
syngo makes it easier for you to attract, train, and
keep the best technologists. With more than 20,000
syngo licenses worldwide on Siemens systems and
workstations, syngo expertise is wide spread.
Advanced workflow
user interface illustrating
a cardiac example.
All necessary parameters
are readily available
to the user so that the
MR parameters can
be adjusted depending
on the patient’s
physiological state
to get the best results.
Phoenix — What You See is What You Get
Phoenix is a unique MAGNETOM tool that is delivered
as a standard feature on all Siemens MR systems.
Phoenix enables you to extract an MR protocol from
an image instantly. Since the MR
protocol information is saved in
the DICOM header, a simple
drag-and-drop function extracts all of the necessary
parameters—TR, TE, bandwidth, number of slices,
echo spacing, etc.,—and you are ready to scan.
syngo Scan Assistant
The smart “syngo Scan Assistant” offers tips
and solutions on possible parameter changes
such as TR, TE or bandwidth, as well as their
1
Examples:
MR Angiography Processing
Subtracting pre- and post-contrast studies,
calculating standard deviation in ceMRA
studies, and displaying Inline MIP helps simplify
time-sensitive ceMRA studies. The revolutionary
IPA coil concept, the strongest gradients in the
industry, the iPAT solution with IPA compatible
coils, and Inline technology equip you with an
undeniable competitive advantage.
Phoenix — Drag and Drop MR Protocols
• Reproducibility of MR examinations for follow up
• Consistency of your optimized protocols on different
MAGNETOM systems
• Simple sharing of MR protocols based on image exchange
Phoenix helps you ensure reproducibility and
maintain high-quality examinations, as well as
share your MR knowledge with others. In addition,
Phoenix supports the MAGNETOM World community
by facilitating the transfer of MR expertise between
users throughout the globe. A library of images
(Phoenix Gallery) which can be phoenixed is available
at the Siemens MAGNETOM world internet site,
http://www.med.siemens.com/magnetom/magnetom
_world_new. Phoenix is even intelligent enough to
automatically scale protocols to the appropriate
gradient strength, easing the exchange protocols
between systems with different performance.
Angio Inline
parameter card
helps simplify
time-sensitive
ce-MRA studies.
PACE
Prospective Acquisition and CorrEction. With
PACE, motion is under control. PACE helps to
detect and correct motion in 2D or 3D. In EPI
studies, 3D PACE prospectively adjusts gradient
commands according to 6-dimensional head
motion providing accurate fMRI results.
Inline Technology—Processing
Instead of Post-Processing
The computational complexity and need for
post-processing increases considerably when it
comes to new sequences and applications such as
Diffusion, Perfusion, ceMRA, and
real-time fMRI. The user is
suddenly presented with large
volumes of MR data and an equally large number of
possibilities to manipulate these data sets. Operations
include calculating statistical parameters in an fMRI
BOLD experiment, specifying the threshold,
overlaying these results on anatomical images and
—to make things even more demanding—overlaying
this information in color on 3D data sets in real-time!
Inline-technology simplifies this process with on-thefly data processing.
PACE (Prospective
Acquisition CorrEction)
Motion under control
Excellent Body imaging
with multi-breath hold
technique with PACE.
DWI
Time is of the essence when it comes to stroke
imaging. Ultrafast EPI sequences are employed,
which can flood the user with a large number
of diffusion-weighted images. Inline Technology
makes it possible to have Trace images and ADC
maps calculated on-the-fly. As a result, the user
is able to focus on the fewer, clinically relevant
images needed for a faster diagnosis.
Simply stated: Inline Technology enables, “processing
instead of post-processing”. Protocols allow the user
to “pre-define” the desired output, and the results are
displayed immediately following image acquisition
with no user intervention needed!
Perfusion
Inline calculations of the Global Bolus Plot, PBP
map (Percentage of Baseline at Peak map), and
2
TTP map (Time to Peak map) not only give an
excellent overview but also provide immediate
hemodynamic data.
reference and performs a statistical 3D registration
enabling precise slice angulations and positioning.
This option optimizes workflow and turns patient
follow-up into an accurate, easy-to-perform task.
The following example illustrates its usefulness.
Real-time fMRI
The anatomical overlay of fMRI results gives
immediate feedback on experimental quality
and/or task performance. Inline technology with
on-the-fly motion correction and graphical overlay
makes real-time fMRI studies easy to perform.
Image Composing
Getting an impressive, seamlessly unified
panoramic image of the whole spine, whole body
morphology or head-to-toe ce-MRA is simple with
the composing task card. These combined images
are appreciated by referring physicians. This easyto-use image composing software can be run on
the main console or on a Leonardo workstation.
With a few mouse clicks all relevant images are
combined automatically using a true 3D algorithm.
The user always has the opportunity to manually
3D real-time fMRI with immediate results.
Workflow Automation
Siemens has introduced a number of approaches
that ensure reproducibility in MR examinations.
Follow-up studies can be of significant value to
patients, clinicians and researchers. A higher
degree of confidence in the clinical outcome is
possible with workflow automation features such
as AutoAlign, Argus Auto-segmentation, and
Structured Reporting.
Composing task card.
AutoAlign
AutoAlign ensures automatic, standardized slice
positioning for brain examinations. The MR
scanner uses a 3D anatomical brain atlas as a
Multi-step image compose.
AutoAlign for precise patient follow-up.
3
adjust individual segments in cases of gross patient
motion. However, the original data is maintained
for future reference. Measurements like angle or
distance can be done on the resultant images and
these composed images can be sent via PACS
to desired locations.
Tim
Tim is the transforming technology that shifts the
spotlight onto a new and tremendously innovative
RF system and matrix coil concept. Tim technology
allows you to scan large areas or provide hybrid
anatomical coverage without repositioning the
patient or coil, e.g. whole body morphology
or MR angiography imaging. Tim provides you
Head Matrix
Neck Matrix
Tim Assistant for best iPAT acceleration.
Intelligent Coil Control
This feature automatically detects and displays
the position of a coil on the patient table. Coil
settings are stored within the protocols and are
automatically adapted on recall/rerun of the
protocol eliminating the need to worry about
correct coil selection and coil changes in
multi-exam studies. This has a tremendous
impact on workflow since the technologist can
control which coil elements are used for scanning
from the MR console.
Body Matrix
Body Matrix
Peripheral Angiography Matrix
Tim technology.
Spine Matrix
with the flexibility to
image pathologies that may
effect various parts of the body,
unlimited by the constraints of individual coils.
The ability to combine and mix different coils
depending on specific clinical questions benefits
both the patient as well as the clinician. From
revolutionary acquisition quality to breakthrough
applications in ultrashort scan times, Tim opens
up new worlds of possibilities. All this represents
a major leap forward in productivity. Siemens
is the only company that offers significant freedom
and flexibility in combining coils with the highest
PAT factors even for single organ scans.
Intelligent Coil control for optimized usage of coil elements
and highest SNR.
Tim Assistant
Conclusion
With syngo MR and Tim Assistant you will always
do your best. Tim Assistant helps make parallel
imaging easy by automatically recommending the
appropriate PAT factor for the selected examination.
Tim Assistant knows the selected coil elements as
well as the MR protocol, and recommends an iPAT
configuration for your application.
With these intelligent features, state-of-the-art
technology and optimized workflow tools
MAGNETOM systems help you to do more
with less. It changes the way you work making
it easy and intuitive. It all comes together in
exactly the right way.
4
On account of certain regional limitations of sales rights
and service availability, we cannot guarantee that all
products included in this brochure are available through
the Siemens sales organization worldwide. Availability
and packaging may vary by country and is subject to
change without prior notice. Some/All of the features
and products described herein may not be available in
the United States.
The information in this document contains general
technical descriptions of specifications and options as
well as standard and optional features which do not
always have to be present in individual cases.
Siemens reserves the right to modify the design,
packaging, specifications and options described herein
without prior notice. Please contact your local Siemens
sales representative for the most current information.
Note: Any technical data contained in this document
may vary within defined tolerances. Original images
always lose a certain amount of detail when reproduced.
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
Magnetic Resonance Division
51 Valley Stream Parkway
Malvern, PA 19355-1406 USA
Telephone: 1-888-826-9702
www.usa.siemens.com/medical
Siemens Medical
Solutions that help
© 2004 Siemens Medical Solutions
Order No. A91004-M2220-M100-8-4A00
Printed in USA