New and improved MRI makes debut at Calgary Clinic

The GE 3.0 SIGNA PIONEER is up and running at CDC’s Chinook location.

A Calgary clinic is now home to the most advanced non-hospital MRI system in the world and doctors say the new machine will improve accuracy and be more comfortable for patients.

The 3.0 SIGNA PIONEER MRI was built by General Electric and is only the second one of its kind being used in Canada.

The system was installed at Canada Diagnostic Centres’ Chinook location and provides an exceptional level of detail and enhanced image quality.

The MRI uses a three tesla magnet so the field strength is higher than most conventional MRIs.

“The advantage of that is it improved the signal that you get from the magnet in the body and what that does is improve the image,” said Dr. Graham Campbell, CDC Radiologist.

Campbell says the wide-bore 3T MRI is more comfortable for patients and is quieter than traditional units.

“The opening in the magnet is 70 centimetres, which is the widest on the market. That’s very useful because a lot of people find MRI very uncomfortable, it’s a claustrophobic feeling and this eases that feeling,” said Campbell. “It is a quieter magnet so there’s technology to make it quieter.”

He says the new technology and higher field strength will also shorten the length of time it takes to do some scans.

“We can also do some scans to shorten the time so we can do the patients in a faster manner so even if you are a little claustrophobic, if you can cut the exam time down from 30 minutes to 20 minutes or down to 15 minutes, that’s an improvement.”

Campbell says the improved resolution could also reduce the use of contrast dyes for some procedures.

“The idea with this technology is that we should be able to see some of those structures that we needed contrast before without having to do that so that would avoid an invasive procedure in that scenario,” he said.

Right now there are only 27 machines like this in use worldwide and the clinic is now booking appointments.