Siemens Healthineers Get FDA Nod for MAGNETOM Free.Star MRI Scanner

An emerging whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system may provide enhanced imaging capabilities with lower costs and energy consumption in comparison to conventional whole body MRI scanners.

The MAGNETOM Free.Star MRI scanner, recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), offers targeted denoising and high-resolution scans through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Deep Resolve algorithms, according to Siemens Healthineers, the manufacturer of the MRI system.

Noting that the MAGNETOM Free.Star device is the smallest and most lightweight whole-body MRI system it has manufactured, the company emphasized that it requires less than one liter of liquid helium and no quench pipe. Siemens Healthineers said the reduced energy consumption can lead to a greater than 30 percent reduction in lifecycle costs of the device in comparison to other MRI devices.

Siemens Healthineers noted another aspect of the modality is the myExam Companion, which enhances exam efficiency through AI.

“The MAGNETOM Free.Star is further proof of our steadfast commitment to providing customers with MRI scanners that are more cost-effective, more easily operable, and more easily sited for installation at a wide variety of healthcare institutions across the United States,” noted Jane Kilkenny, the vice president of MR Business Management at Siemens Healthineers.