From Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc.;
the AIRIS made its debut in 1995. Hitachi followed up with the AIRIS II system, which has proven equally successfully. 'All told, Hitachi has installed more than 1,000 MRI systems in the U.S., holding more than 17 percent of the total U.S. MRI installed base, and more than half of the installed base of open MR systems,' says Antonio Garcia, Frost and Sullivan industry research analyst. Now Altaire employs a blend of innovative Hitachi features called VOSIâ„¢ technology, optimizing each sub-system's performance in concert with the other sub-systems, to give the seamless mix of high-field performance and the patient comfort, especially for claustrophobic patients, of open MR systems.

From Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc.;
the EXCELART is a superconducting whole body MRI system with a short wide-bore magnet, operating at 1.5 T. It features powerful high-speed gradients with a revolutionary gradient acoustic noise reduction system: Pianissimo. The dramatic reduction of gradient acoustic noise by Pianissimo greatly enhances patient comfort during exams. The standard array platform and a wide range of array coils ensure excellent images. A powerful 64-bit RISC-based computer system and newly developed array processor realize high productivity.

From GE Healthcare;
the Signa Ovationâ„¢ is a patient-friendly open MRI scanner designed not only to handle a typical patient mix, but to accommodate larger patients, patients who are claustrophobic, and others who have difficulty tolerating the close quarters of conventional MR machines.

From Hitachi Medical Systems America Inc.;
the AIRIS II, an entry in the diagnostic category of open MR systems, was designed by Hitachi Medical Systems America Inc. (Twinsburg, OH, USA) and Hitachi Medical Corp. (Tokyo) and is manufactured by the Tokyo branch. A 0.3 T field-strength magnet and phased array coils deliver high image quality without the need for a tunnel-type high-field system, thereby significantly improving patient comfort not only for claustrophobic patients.

From ONI Medical Systems, Inc.;
MSK-Extremeâ„¢MRI system is a dedicated high field extremity imaging device, designed to provide orthopedic surgeons and other physicians with detailed diagnostic images of the foot, ankle, knee, hand, wrist and elbow, all with the clinical confidence and advantages derived from high field, whole body MRI units. The light weight (less than 650 kg) of the OrthOne System performs rapid patient studies, is easy to operate, has a patient friendly open environment and can be installed in a practice office or hospital, all at a cost similar to a low field extremity machine.
New features include a more powerful operating system that offers increased scan speed as well as a 160-mm knee coil with higher signal to noise ratio, and the option of a CD burner.