Bayer and Siemens Healthineers launch first synchronised imaging system interface for MRI

MedTech News: Bayer and Siemens Healthineers recently presented the new Imaging System Interface (ISI) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at this year’s European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2020, taking place virtually for the first time in July 2020.

ISI is a joint hardware and software development from Bayer and Siemens Healthineers and the first injector scanner interface for the MRI suite.

It synchronises the MEDRAD MRXperion MR Injection System from Bayer and the Siemens Healthineers MR scanner, thereby overcoming significant challenges posed by the complex process used in conventional contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI, which can result in high stress for operators and suboptimal imaging. By enabling synchronised injector triggering from the MRI scanner operator console and a more efficient workflow, ISI allows users to conduct high quality, consistent contrast enhanced procedures and spend more time focusing on the patient.

In a conventional, manually controlled setting, technologists must constantly plan, monitor and time the various steps on the injector and scanner workstations separately during contrast-enhanced MRI procedures. If the required steps are not optimally timed and synchronized, poor image quality may be generated, which can delay diagnosis as contrast-enhanced scans then have to be repeated. This can result in additional costs to healthcare systems and may cause unnecessary stress and inconvenience for patients as well as healthcare providers.

“Together with Siemens Healthineers, we were able to design an interface that directly addresses the challenges of conventional contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI workflows and improves both the user and patient experience,” said Prof. Olaf Weber, Head of Radiology Research and Development at Bayer.

“The coupling between MRI and injector is a great achievement for the transformation of care delivery; instead of multiple, time-critical interactions on different consoles, everything can be controlled with a few clicks from the MR console, making synchronized MR injections easier. Thinking forward, it is also perfect for scenarios where experts might remotely operate the MRI system,” said Arthur Kaindl, Head of Magnetic Resonance at Siemens Healthineers.

The ISI system recently achieved CE mark certification.