Collaboration for World's First Mobile 3.0T MRI Trailer

Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles (OSV; formerly AK Specialty Vehicles; Harvey, IL, USA), a leading manufacturer of custom mobile medical and specialty vehicles, has developed the first mobile 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) trailer in collaboration with Philips Medical Systems (Best, The Netherlands).

This new mobile medical unit was recently presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual convention held in Chicago (IL, USA, November 26-December 1, 2006). "Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles is extremely pleased to be the first to provide a mobile solution for a 3T MRI system to medical care providers. The integration of this MRI system is an example of the advanced engineering and production capabilities that we put into each of our products,” said John Slawson, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles' president.

This newly designed Oshkosh SV trailer houses the novel Mobile 3.0T technology and is composed of the new Philips Achieva 3.0 X-series. It features new X-series technology encompassing magnet, gradient, and radiofrequency (RF) advancements, which provide enhanced performance and large 50-cm field of view. The Achieva 3.0T X-series allows clinicians to conduct routine to advanced clinical applications for all anatomies on a platform that is as comfortable, compact, and easy to use as a 1.5 T.

"We truly believe the Philips 3.0T technology is ready for everyday clinical use” said Jacques Coumans, Philips vice president of marketing, magnetic resonance. "Philips was the first vendor to produce the 1.5T mobile, building the Mobile 3.0T was the next logical step. Philips has partnered with Oshkosh SV to develop the mobile version of the Achieva 3.0T X-series, the first of its kind in the industry.”

The latest generation 3.0T system is lightweight and magnetically shielded to
allow for transportation. RF shielding is built into the unit and the stray field is comparable to the 1.5T mobile system. Magnet innovations include a large 50-cm field of view and 4K zero boil-off technology. The mobile 3.0T system will provide precisely the same functionality as fixed site systems, from whole body imaging to spectroscopy, while providing versatility and cost-effectiveness allowing clinicians to use the system virtually anywhere.



Related Links:
Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles
Philips Medical Systems