UK musculoskeletal research boosted with introduction of 3 Tesla MRI
26 March 2010
Scientists at the Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research
Unit (LMBRU), based at Chapel Allerton Hospital, have recently welcomed
the installation of a Magnetom Verio from Siemens Healthcare.
The system is the only large bore 3 Tesla MRI in the UK being used
purely for this purpose.
The Magnetom Verio features a large 70cm
bore to enable more flexibility and allow researchers to place
patients off centre, providing better quality imaging results. The
ability to place hands and wrists at the centre of the Verio
provides the researchers with clearer and more in-depth images. The
bore also accommodates a greater range of patients and can capture
sharper images due to less anxiety-related movement.
“Patients will undergo around three or four scans during the
course of a research project so the scanner has to be comfortable,
which was one of the key decision factors in selecting the Siemens
Verio,” said Dr Philip O’Connor, Director of Imaging at LMBRU. “We
also needed a large bore system for kinematic imaging. Due to the
size of the bore we can put patients off centre; this means we can
place joints or extremities in the middle of the scanner without the
patient feeling claustrophobic.”
“The Magnetom Verio provides high quality imaging and flexibility
so that scientists at the LMBRU will be able to gain a greater depth
of understanding during musculoskeletal research,” said Neil
Lincoln, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare.
The Verio’s TrueForm magnet and gradient design works to fit the
true form of the human body. It provides greater image quality with
better fat saturation and also features Tim (total imaging matrix)
technology, designed to increase flexibility, accuracy and speed to
make every aspect of imaging more efficient and productive. Tim
provides seamless scans of up to 205cm without the need to
reposition or change coils.
The MAGNETOM Verio from Siemens Healthcare with
the team at the Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit
(LMBRU). (Left to right): Sue Smith, LMBRU Manager; Rob Evans,
Senior MRI Research Radiographer; Peter Wright, MRI Medical
Physicist; Dr. Richard Hodgson, Senior Lecturer in MRI; Neil
Lincoln, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare.
The LMBRU is part of the Biomedical Health Research Centre, a
£13m investment by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and
University of Leeds. The centre combines four scientific faculties
of the university with clinical and scientific experts at the Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.