HealthManagement, Volume 6 - Issue 4, 2006
Choosing the right MR system involves careful planning and selecting of benefits and features that meet the needs of healthcare facilities. ECRI recently published an evaluation of three 1.5-tesla MR systems. The in-depth article published in ECRI’s Health Devices journal provides information on selection criteria, extensive product specifications, and detailed results and analysis from ECRI’s testing to assist healthcare organisations in selecting and purchasing an MR system.
ECRI offers guidance on options to consider during the selection process, such as different field strengths, gradient systems, coils, channels, and specialised imaging features. In addition, ECRI details offerings of three 1.5-tesla MR systems marketed by GE, Siemens, and Toshiba. The systems are rated for two different uses: inpatient imaging (performed in hospitals) and outpatient imaging (most often performed in imaging centres). Additionally, the systems are evaluated and rated according to their ability to meet the needs of three specialised applications - breast and cardiac imaging and functional MR imaging. In this issue, ECRI found key differentiators between models: each of the three models received a preferred rating in at least one specific category of use.
