The content on this page is intended to healthcare professionals and equivalents.
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.
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.
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.
- *2 RADial Acquisition Regime
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.
To boost your productivity, ECHELON Smart offers features that streamline workflow and enhance throughput, such as AutoPose and Parameter Guidance function for easy and fast operation. Fast scan capabilities and robust scan techniques to reduce re-scanning contribute to shorter scan times, and on-console analysis functions reduce the transfer time of data to the workstation. With the SmartSPEED feature, your operational efficiency is improved.
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.
*3 Compared to usage without the SmartEco energy saving function
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.
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
Our technologies enhance image quality
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% *4 and thus provide excellent clinical images.This technology is particularly effective for multi-channel receiver coils in which the coil elements are segmented.
*4 Varies by receiver coil and imaging conditions; with noise correlation applied
16-channel receiver coil imaging setting
Doubling the number of receiver coils to improve the reception sensitivity and stability during high-speed imaging
The elements of the receiver coils have been downsized to double the number of receiver channels from 8 to 16. This has improved the receiver sensitivity, achieved a high image SN ratio, and realized low-noise receiver from multi-channel receiver coils in the abdomen and other regions, for which independent receiver was not possible using an 8-channel system. When the RAPID high-speed imaging function is used, the greater the number of receiver coil elements, the more redundantly the expansion information can be obtained. This ensures stable imaging.
High slew rate compatible with high-speed and high-performance imaging
Shortening the TE (echo time) for signal receiver is essential for achieving high-speed imaging, excellent MRA images, and high-performance imaging. ECHELON Smart's powerful gradient magnetic field system with a high slew rate power supply of 130mT/m/s can shorten the gradient magnetic field stabilization time and consequently can further shorten the minimum TE. Furthermore, this slew rate is sufficient to support super-high speed sequences such as EPI that generate echo signals continuously. By reversing the gradient magnetic field, it is effective for imaging that requires high-speed switching without influencing the image quality.
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.
