Aspect Imaging has expanded its compact industrial and pre-clinical MR design to the medical market with the WristView MR System, which the company showcased at RSNA in Chicago last week.

“It is the largest bore, permanent MR that we know of and it requires no helium for cooling, no special power supply, or a big shielded room,” Andrew Lonergan, VP of sales and marketing with Aspect Imaging told HCB News.

He added that the machine is relatively affordable — roughly a quarter of the install price of standard MR systems. It is self-shielding, so no expensive build-out is required, and the unit sets up in about four hours.
The small-footprint unit is designed to make images of the hand and wrist to diagnose a wide range of conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, scaphoid fractures and hand and wrist injuries

WristView features quiet operations via a “whisper gradient” design and is non-claustrophobic. About five percent of the population reportedly has issues with claustrophobia.

According to Lonergan, the 1 Tesla machine offers the thinnest slice view available for a small footprint MR and the unit is especially suited for large rehab and surgical centers. It also provides helium-free cooling and one push-button operation.

The company is also working on other small-footprint models for medical use, including an MR unit designed for use in neonatal intensive care units and in emergency rooms to scan suspected stroke victims.

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