MRI training

MHRA publications - free of charge

MHRA publications - forthcoming

MHRA publications - now available

Forthcoming MR assessments

New MRI test objects

Occupational noise exposure

MagNET at UKRC 2005

All change at MagNET

Contact MagNET

How to unsubscribe

MRI training

MagNET's next MRI Safety course will be held on Friday 24 June 2005.

This one-day course covers numerous safety aspects of MRI from initial site-planning, everyday clinical safety and the latest legislation affecting patients and staff.

Places are still available and you can register via our website.

MRI quality assurance

MagNET's next one-day course on MRI quality assurance will be held on Thursday 22 September 2005.

This course will cover basic and advanced aspects of performing and analysing MRI quality assurance.

Places are still available for this course and you can register via our website.

MHRA publications - free of charge

This follows the recommendations of the MHRA's strategic review, undertaken in 2004.

To request your free reports in electronic format, please visit the report downloads page of our website.

MHRA publications - forthcoming

1.5T Comparison Report Issue 5

Issue 5 of the 1.5T Comparison Report is currently in preparation.

This report contains specification and image performance data on five different 1.5T systems:

• GE Signa EXCITE 1.5T (with EchoSpeed gradients)
• GE Signa EXCITE 1.5T (with TwinSpeed gradients)
• Philips Achieva 1.5T
• Siemens MAGNETOM Symphony 1.5T
• Siemens MAGNETOM Avanto 1.5T

This report is expected to be published later in 2005.

3T Comparison Report Issue 2

Issue 2 of the popular 3T Comparison Report is currently being prepared.

The report will be expanded to contain specification data and technical performance data on four 3T systems:

• GE Signa EXCITE 3 3T
• Philips Achieva 3T
• Siemens MAGNETOM Allegra 3T
• Siemens MAGNETOM Trio 3T

This report is expected to be published later in 2005.

For further information on any of these reports, please contact us.

MHRA publications - now available

A single-product report on the Siemens MAGNETOM Avanto 1.5T MR system is now available.

This report details specification and technical evaluation data for the system.

Oni OrthOne 1.0T Dedicated

A single-product report on the Oni OrthOne 1.0T dedicated MRI system is now available.

The report details the system specification and imaging performance of the system.

This is MagNET's first evaluation of a dedicated system.

Both of these reports are available free of charge from the report downloads page of our website.

Forthcoming MR assessments

MagNET is currently negotiating with all the manufacturers of open MRI systems to arrange evaluations.

Starting in June 2005, it is hoped that the following systems will be assessed:

• Philips Panorama 0.23T
• Philips Panorama 0.6 T
• GE Profile 0.2 T
• GE Ovation 0.35 T
• GE OpenSpeed 0.7 T

The results for these assessments will be published in the updated Open Comparison Report Issue 5.

New MRI test objects

Small bore systems

MagNET has designed two new test objects for quality assurance on small bore systems such as high-field research scanners or dedicated limb scanners.

The new SNR and Uniformity test objects can be supplied ready-filled with mineral oil for use on very high field systems.

For a more detailed description of these two new test objects, please see the small bore test objects page of our website.

Shoulder test objects

These 17 cm diameter spherical phantoms have principally been designed for the evaluation of shoulder coils.

They can also be used to test multi-channel brain coils where the curved design prevents the use of the cylindrical flood field.

Further information on all of MagNET's MRI test objects can be found on our website.

Occupational noise exposure

A new European Union Directive, due to be adopted as UK legislation in 2006, will affect employers' obligations to MRI staff.

If staff are present in the scan room during scanning, they may be exposed to acoustic noise greater than permissible levels.

In this case, employers are obliged to make a formal noise exposure survey performed by a suitably qualified person.

MagNET can now provide this as a service. Recommendations will be made with regard to the employer's obligations under the legislation.

For further information on MagNET's service and how this will affect MRI staff, please see the noise exposure survey page on our website.

MagNET at UKRC 2005

MagNET team members will be present at this year's UK Radiological Congress (UKRC).

The congress will be held at the G-MEX and MICC, Manchester, UK, from Monday 6 - Wednesday 8 June 2005.

MagNET team members will be present on the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's exhibition stand where you can pick up MagNET's MRI evaluation reports or discuss MagNET's services.

Further information is available on the news section of our website.

All change at MagNET

MagNET bids a fond farewell to Dr Janet De Wilde, MagNET's former manager.

Janet joined MagNET in 1988 and has been instrumental in shaping MagNET's operation and activities today.

She has been a key figure in developing MagNET's MRI evaluation reports and in establishing and maintaining relationships with MR manufacturers.

She has also been a key figure in MRI safety, publishing several papers on the subject, sitting on the BIR Safety Committee and producing the MHRA's revised "Guidelines for Magnetic Resonance Equipment in Clinical Use".

We all thank Janet for the hard work she has put in over the years and wish her all the best for her new post.

Contact Us

Please contact us if you would like further information on any of MagNET's publications or services:

MagNET
Department of Bioengineering
Bagrit Centre
Imperial College London
Exhibition Road
South Kensington
London
SW7 2AZ
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6305
Fax: +44 (0)20 7594 6337
Email: enquiry@magnet-mri.org
Website: http://www.magnet-mri.org/

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