ECHELON Smart

The content on this page is intended to healthcare professionals and equivalents.

ECHELON Smart heralds the dawn of a new standard for 1.5T superconductive MRI.

The ECHELON Smart features a small footprint with a limited cost, without compromising on diagnostic quality and speed.
Based on our proprietary technology, this system has opened up the potential for 1.5T systems, providing superb image quality and superior install flexibility inherited from permanent-magnet MRI systems.
ECHELON Smart offers new options for superconductive MRI.

Smart COMFORT

Patient-friendly Quiet Examination

Various technologies exist to reduce MRI imaging noise.
However, reducing acoustic noise often compromise on image quality and may extend scan time, making it unsuitable for routine examination.
Other approaches need dedicated hardware.
Our SmartCOMFORT noise reduction technology reduces the acoustic noise by up to 96%^*1.

*1 Varies with the imaging conditions.

Our noise reduction technology only has a minimal impact on the image contrast and the imaging time.

With SmartCOMFORT, the gradient magnetic field pulse form has been changed and the imaging parameters adjusted, keeping a balance between the imaging time, contrast, image SN ratio, and spatial resolution to reduce any impact the noise reduction technology may have.

Changing the waveform of the gradient magnetic field changes the frequency characteristics.

Gradient magnetic field pulse forms and frequency components

Principle of imaging noise reduction

The gradient magnetic field waveform is given by the product of the applied current and application time. This waveform also changes the sound quality.

Smart QUALITY

Superb Image Quality Realized by Sophisticated Technologies

The advanced specification of MRI sub-systems makes the most important impact on the delivery of image quality without compromise. ECHELON Smart is equipped with powerful sub-systems which includes the SmartENGINE which supports high quality imaging and high performance RF system to empower robust imaging technologies.

SmartSPEED

Smart ECO

Ecological with Economical Running Cost 17% LESS

Superconductive MRI systems generally command high running costs.
This cost is mainly related to the high power consumption of the cooling system necessary to maintain superconductivity.
ECHELON Smart is equipped with an energy saving function that can stop the cooling system for a certain length of time during periods of non-use or on nonconsultation days.
This function effectively reduces the power consumption whilst maintaining zero boiling off of the helium.
Moreover, as the heat emission from the cooling system itself also decreases during these periods, the power consumption of its heat-dissipating unit is also cut.

Smart SPACE

Small Footprint and Flexible Layout

It is often a matter of concern whether there is sufficient space in the equipment room for a superconductive MRI system installation.
ECHELON Smart has an extended cable length between the main MRI gantry and the power unit in the equipment room.
This enables flexible layouts that can remove some of the hurdles faced when introducing an MRI system.

Attain "high image quality" and "high speed" in clinical practice with the combination of our applications, operations, and hardware.

Smart APPLICATION

All Around RADAR
Plaque Imaging
isoFSE
BeamSat TOF
VASC-ASL
BSI
FatSep
H-Sinc
TIGRE
T2* RelaxMap / R2* RelaxMap

Smart IMAGE GALLERY

Smart OPERATION

Coil System
AutoPose
User Interface
Suggestion UI

Smart HARDWARE

SmartENGINE
16ch Receiver System
High Performance Gradient System
High Performance RF System

Smart HARDWARE

Our technologies enhance image quality

SmartENGINE

Optimizing the image SN ratio on multi-channel receiver coils

The ECHELON Smart is powered by a high-speed A/D converter (Analog to Digital Converter) which directly digitizes the high frequency signal, suppressing noise to enhance image quality. It also incorporates an optimum image synthesizing technique allowing the precise adjustment of the image synthesis ratio taking into account the noise correlation during composition of signals from the elements to improve the total image SN ratio by 8%*3 and thus provide excellent clinical images.This technology is particularly effective for multi-channel receiver coils in which the coil elements are segmented.

*3 Varies by receiver coil and imaging conditions.

16-channel receiver coil imaging setting

High Performance RF System

RF power output that ensures stable maintenance of radiation waveforms

ECHELON Smart is equipped with an RF power output of 18 kW. This is sufficient to provide clear images without deterioration of image quality even in the FSE sequence that applies refocus pulses continuously.