A conventional MR scanner can produce 110 dBA (decibels) rivalling noise from a steel mill or air craft engine or heavy traffic noise on our roads. Silence is golden for millions of patients who find MRI scans loud and distressing. Patient comfort is one of the leading factors in getting the most accurate diagnosis. GE Healthcare’s Silent Scan*, a revolutionary technology addresses this significant impediment to patient comfort – excessive sound generated during an MRI scan.. GE’s exclusive Silent Scan technology reduces MR scanner noise to near ambient (background) sound levels and thus improve a patient’s MR exam experience.
“Acoustic noise is one of the biggest complaints of patients – especially elderly and children, who undergo MRI scanning. Combine that with the small bore sizes of conventional MRIs that make patients claustrophobic and we have a very fidgety patient in our hand. Every small movement the patient makes effect the quality of outcomes and yet times needs us to re-scan the patient. If we can make the patient more comfortable and relaxed, we can get the outcomes best, first time. We found this Silent Technology to be very compassionate, to the patient – just as the care we strive to provide to our patients. With this, we will have very few re-scans Our Silent MRI will be fully operational from 3rd week of March 2014. ” - Dr Prem Nair, Medical Director, A I M S
Noise is one of the major complaints from patients who undergo an MRI exam. Historically, medical manufacturers have addressed the noise issue by muffling it using a combination of acoustic dampening material or even degrading MRI machine performance in order to reduce the noise level. Today most hospitals use ear plugs, head phones etc. to help the patient hear less noise during an MRI scan. Two years ago, GE engineers initiated their quest to reduce noise during an MRI scan. They developed –Silent Scan Technology, a radical new type of 3D MR acquisition methodology, a combination of proprietary high-fidelity gradient and RF system electronics, by which the noise is not merely dampened but is virtually eliminated at the source. The Silent Scan Technology is co-developed in India by GE. Silent Scan is available on new as well as existing Discovery MR750w with GEM and Optima MR450w with GEM systems.
“We keep people at the centre of all our innovations. Clinicians, technicians and patients told us about their challenges undergoing an MRI scan. Based on their feedback, we humanized our MRI technology and GE’s Silent MRI puts patients first. Now patients and clinicians can hear the difference during an MRI scan – just a whisper! And what’s more, this technology is co-developed in India and is making a silent revolution! India is one of the fastest adopter of this compassionate technology! Said Dr Karthik Kuppusamy, Senior Director, MRI Imaging, GE Healthcare South Asia.
