GE Healthcare has developed a new magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique, MAVRIC SL, used for imaging the joints of patients with metallic implants.
Developed and evaluated in collaboration with Stanford University and Hospital for Special Surgery, the imaging solution will help physicians evaluate the soft tissues in the area of arthroplasty (joint replacements) and metallic instrumentation.
The MAVRIC SL, intended for use on GE 1.5T and 3.0T MR systems, is also expected to minimize artifacts caused due to the presence of metal in both in-plane and through-plane dimensions compared to traditional MR imaging techniques.
GE Healthcare general manager of Premium MR said Jacques Coumans said the ability of MR to image tissues adjacent to metal implants and fixation hardware is significantly hampered by severe image artifacts.
"MAVRIC SL is designed to help reduce these artifacts as the number of procedures requiring MR imaging near metal continues to grow," Coumans added.