EXCITE, GE's parallel imaging technology, is now available on all GE open systems. All are manufactured in Japan:

• Signa OpenSpeed EXCITE 0.7T
  
• Signa Ovation EXCITE 0.35T
• Signa Profile/o 0.2T (note that EXCITE is works in progress on this system)
• Signa Profile/i 0.2T (note that EXCITE is works in progress on this system)

Signa OpenSpeed EXCITE 0.7T

This now incorporates software release version 5.

The gradients system has amplitude 25mT/m and slew rate 75mT/m/s.

Due to Excite technology being available on this system, the Signa OpenSpeed EXCITE 0.7T now has:

• VIBRANT - bilateral breast imaging in a single exam
• TRICKS - contrast-enhanced angiographic vascular lower leg imaging

Signa Ovation EXCITE 0.35T

This now incorporates software release version 4.

The gradients system has amplitude 15mT/m and slew rate 45mT/m/s.

GE are marketing all closed bore systems as EXCITE HD (High Definition, High Density and Human Dimension).

• 3T Signa EXCITE HD
• 1.5T Signa EXCITE HD

"HD" aims to "improve the MR experience for the patient, radiographer and radiologist".

Applications

HDMR Technology provides the following targeted MR applications at 1.5T:

• VIBRANT - bilateral breast imaging in a single exam
• TRICKS - contrast-enhanced angiographic vascular lower leg imaging
• RealCARD - real-time cardiac imaging providing MR resolution with ultrasound speed (20 frames per second) without breath holding or ECG gating (launched at RSNA 2004)
• PROPELLER - high-quality brain imaging with extreme resistance to motion artifacts
• LAVA - Extremely high resolution liver imaging with shorter breath holds and improved organ coverage (launched at RSNA 2004)
• MR Echo - real time cardiac imaging with no ECG or breath hold (launched at RSNA 2004)

RF systems

The EXCITE HD 8 or EXCITE HD 16 RF system is available.

The 1.5T HD RF coils available include:

• HD Spine Array
• HD Cardiac Array
• HD Body Array
• HD Breast Array
• HD Knee Array
• 16-channel HD Lower Leg Array (launched at RSNA 2004) and will be available in 2005

Gradients

The HD gradient have new drivers and improved repeatability.

The 3T HD gradient is the TwinSpeed gradient technology.

RF System

The EXCITE HD 8 or EXCITE HD 16 RF system is available.

The 3T HD RF coils available include:

• HD Neurovascular
• HD Spine Array
• HD Cardiac Array
• HD Torso Array
• HD Shoulder Array
• HD Breast Array (works in progress)
• HD Brain Spectroscopy (works in progress)
• 32-channel HD Torso Array (works in progress)

A site in the UK will be the first clinical GE site in the world to use the HD Breast Array at 3T. This will initially be a 4-channel coil.

Applications

HDMR Technology provides the following targeted MR applications at 3T:

• TRICKS - contrast-enhanced angiographic vascular lower leg imaging
• PROPELLER - high-quality brain imaging with extreme resistance to motion artifacts
• VIBRANT - bilateral breast imaging in a single exam (will be available in 2005)

HD Cardiac is also in preparation, which will utilise the SAR management technology.

The user interface is now built on the Linux operating system.