Philips Healthcare (Best, The Netherlands) introduced the world's first mobile 3.0T MRI system with MultiTransmit--the Achieva 3.0T TX Mobile MRI. The medical charity, Cobalt (Cheltenham, Gloucester, UK), purchased the first system and teamed up with Philips to present the Achieva 3.0T TX Mobile MRI in its mobile trailer at the Radiological Conference (UKRC; Birmingham, UK) on June 7-9, 2010, becoming the first to operate the 3.0T MRI system in Europe with MultiTransmit.

Built with the same imaging technology as the stationary Philips 3.0T TX system and outfitted with the same amenities and staff as an in-house MRI suite, the Achieva 3.0T TX Mobile is fully transportable in a 14.6-meter trailer. "The beauty of Achieva 3.0T TX Mobile is that several different healthcare facilities can rent it at any given time because of its ability to travel, ultimately helping to solve patient overflow issues in large university and teaching hospitals,” said Conrad Smits, CEO for MRI, Philips Healthcare. "In addition, it is also ideal for healthcare facilities who do not have the resources to build or add onto their own MRI suites or who want to sample the imaging service provided by advanced 3.0T MultiTransmit technology.”

Additionally, the Achieva 3.0T TX Mobile has the same ease of use and set-up time as many 1.5T scanners, but with the higher resolution and clarity that was once only available in advanced research institutions. The mobile unit also includes active magnetic shielding, permitting the lightweight high field magnet to be transported in the trailer.

The system features MultiTransmit, Philips' patient-adaptive parallel transmit radiofrequency (RF) technology, which utilizes multiple radiofrequency transmission signals to automatically adjust to each patient's unique size and shape. Previously, radiologists using 3.0T imaging faced the challenge of dielectric shading, a nonuniform radiofrequency distribution in the body that affected image quality. The Philips MultiTransmit technologic innovation delivers enhanced image contrast uniformity, and consistent 3.0T imaging to mainstream radiology.

Cobalt, the first to own a Philips Achieva 3.0T TX Mobile, is a leading medical charity. One of their many aims is to facilitate screening for cancer operating within the three counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire. Peter Sharpe, CEO of UK medical charity Cobalt, said, "We believe that the system's greater field of view and excellent image uniformity provided by MultiTransmit technology will allow us to expand the range of patients for whom we can provide a 3.0T imaging service. It should also enable us to offer a regular service for standard MR referrals, not only providing higher quality images but also greater patient throughput.”

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