Siemens introduces MR operation by remote

Siemens demonstrated hands-off imaging at the RSNA with a work in progress that turns control of an MR scanner over to remote operators. The goal behind Expert-I, which is pending FDA clearance, is to allow expert collaboration on challenging examinations regardless of how far away the expert may be.

With the necessary software and a high-speed connection, experts can work an MR console from their PCs while patients are being scanned, according to the company. Patient set-up, sequences, and imaging data can be viewed in real-time.

Siemens demonstrated the capability in its exhibit booth utilizing a real-time link between the University of California-Los Angeles and Northwestern University in Chicago.

Other Siemens MR introductions include syngo Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI), which promises to better visualize bleeding in stroke and brain trauma patients, contusions and shearing injuries, and minute intracranial vascular malformations. A body diffusion technique, called syngo REVEAL, helps differentiate lesions throughout the body, particularly malignant from benign ones. Syngo GRAPPA offers faster spine and cardiac imaging, with a small field-of-view to provide high spatial resolution.