11/27/2005
For Immediate Release
Hitachi Introduces the Echelon™ 1.5T MR Imager at RSNA 2005
CONTACT:
info@hitachimed.com
http://www.hitachimed.com
Twinsburg, Ohio -- November 2005 -- Hitachi Medical Systems America (HMSA) continues to lead in outpatient MR imaging support with the introduction of Echelon 1.5T. This richly featured, compact imager perfectly complements Hitachi’s renowned Open MRI products. Hitachi now offers a complete solution for outpatient MR with advanced technology and capability at every level.
"Echelon represents a new value standard in 1.5T MR," says Shawn Etheridge, HMSA MR Marketing Manager, "There are no 'tiers' to climb in order to get the image quality and capabilities you demand." Echelon's standard features include higher-order active shim, RAPID parallel imaging, a scalable 8-channel RF system, multiple coil ports, an advanced reconstruction engine and more. Its high-performance magnet boasts high homogeneity and low cyrogen boil-off, while the gradient system’s high peak strength and 150 T/m/sec slew rate allow the user to select short echo times, small fields-of-view, high matrices and thin slices.
Echelon's computer system, VERTEX™, is the integration of a multi-processor CPU and an advanced scan/reconstruction engine. The parallel processing design promotes maximum workflow and patient throughput. VERTEX’s full power is easily accessible to the user through the ORIGIN™ MR Operating Software, whose short learning curve promotes fast adaptation to patient registration, scan set-up and image archiving tasks. VERTEX and ORIGIN maximize the benefits of Echelon's array of imaging tools.
"We see the Hitachi tradition of offering advanced MR systems with both cost-effective siting and operation continued in Echelon," adds Etheridge, "As the acknowledged leader in outpatient imaging, we can share an enormous range of experience to our customers, as well as a proven approach for effective siting, installation and start-up." Echelon customers can also count on HMSA's comprehensive service and applications support, plus training to ensure maximum uptime, image quality and productivity.
