Back in high school, a back injury ultimately led me to the MR table, where I was instructed to keep calm, lay still, and ignore the noise for what seemed like forever to a fidgety 14 year old. If I was given Resonance Technology's "magic" goggles, the whole ordeal would have been a breeze. The company's Cinemavision product allows patients to listen to their iTunes, look at what's on TV, or watch their favorite movie. They can also communicate with the technologist, who they can see through the goggles when conversing. An enhanced offering now includes a wireless mouse that enables patients to adjust volume or click an emergency call button. An RSNA attendee visiting the booth told me that he's already ordered eight units for his children's hospital, where the goggles are a hit with ansty youngsters.

A girly girl through and through, I appreciated Siemens' feminine touch in adding a rosy color to its MAGNETOM Espree to distinguish a new women's health solution. MAGNETOM Espree-Pink offers both feet-first and head-first positioning, a 70 cm open bore, accessibility to perform biopsies, and the shortest magnet on the market. Breast care applications address routine breast imaging needs as well as motion-free imaging results, among other functionalities. The system is equipped with the Sentinelle Vanguard coil, which Siemens reps say allows for superior image quality and faster exam times. Lastly, the system is upgradeable to a fully equipped MAGNETOM Espree with whole-body diagnostic capabilities.

 

Photo courtesy of Siemens Healthcare

That’s what one Toshiba exec proclaimed as he pointed us to the company’s Radiance Plus Breast Imaging Suite, which is available on the Vantage Atlas and Vantage Titan MR systems. A bilateral, dedicated Radiance Plus Breast Imaging Coil enhances breast image quality through a high signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, it’s ergonomic, with parts that move up, down, and out of the way, for patient comfort and biopsy access. The system is capable of feet-first breast exams, further addressing patient comfort issues.

 

 

The Vantage Atlas MR system, like the one above, is now offered with a breast imaging package designed with patient comfort in mind.

Photo courtesy of Toshiba America Medical Systems