The Echelon Synergy is a state-of-the-art, advanced 1.5 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system designed and manufactured by FUJIFLM Healthcare, a medical device company.
The system utilises Synergy DLR, the company’s proprietary technology that harnesses AI through deep learning reconstruction (DLR) to improve image clarity and expedite scanning.
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The Echelon Synergy received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2023. The system was launched in Europe in February 2024 and in India in March 2024.
Echelon Synergy MRI system design and features
The Echelon Synergy utilises a 1.5 Tesla (T) superconducting magnet in a gantry design. It is based on the Echelon Oval V6.0A MRI system and aims to improve clinical utility through open architecture.
The system offers enhanced patient comfort with a 70cm-wide bore and 62cm-wide table for patients up to 550lb. Its gradient system has a strength of 33 milliTeslas per minute (mT/m), a slew rate of 130T/m/sec, and a rise time of 254μsec to 33mT/m.
The system includes an anti-bacterial Hydro AG coating on high-contact surfaces to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
The MRI system streamlines workflow with distinctive automated features such as AutoPose or AutoExam One-Touch assessments.
AutoExam One-Touch is highly effective in brain and knee examinations. The feature automatically positions the patient and initiates the exam when the scan room door is closed. It enhances technologist workflow efficiency and reduces examination times for patients.
Technology details of Echelon Synergy
Besides the AI-powered Synergy DLR for advanced reconstruction, the system features IP-RAPID, IterativeRAPID for parallel imaging combined with noise reduction for accelerated imaging across all anatomical areas.
It incorporates SoftSound™ gradient technology to reduce acoustic noise, improving the patient experience.
Featuring dual touch panels for operator comfort, it utilises sensitive multichannel radiofrequency (RF) coil technology adaptable to all patient populations. FlexFit RF coil technology (blanket coils) enables high-quality imaging with ergonomic positioning for clinicians.
The system features RADial Acquisition Regime (RADAR), a tool for capturing motion-suppressed images without sedation or excessive patient restraint. It is compatible with all coils, anatomy, and slice planes. Additionally, Higher Order Active Shimming Technology (HOAST) provides precise RF fat saturation and effective large field of view (FOV) fat suppression in all planes with two shimming levels.
Benefits of Echelon Synergy
The Echelon Synergy system offers flexible siting options, low power consumption, and an affordable total cost of ownership. Its MRI platform enhances workflow, increases throughput, and is user-friendly.
The Synergy DLR improves image quality, sharpness, and scanning speed, reducing scan time by 50% compared to the previous generation.
The system’s brain tests take just five minutes. Its robust architecture, single-touch controls, and AI-powered reconstruction support a wide range of anatomies and scans.
Hydro AG antibacterial coating
HAIs are acquired by patients during their stay in a healthcare facility. Approximately one in 31 individuals in a healthcare setting contracts at least one HAI, as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control.
To address the prevalence of HAIs, the company has introduced Hydro AG™, a silver-ion antibacterial coating. The proprietary coating serves as an additional protective layer, effectively preventing the growth of microorganisms, bacteria, and mould on surfaces. It demonstrates a 99.99% efficacy rate against common bacteria, making it 100 times more effective than traditional coatings and 10,000 times more effective than non-coated surfaces.
When used alongside established infection control measures, the coating proves to be an effective strategy in inhibiting bacterial growth on detector surfaces. Notably, the proprietary film coating is integrated into Fujifilm’s FDR D-EVO II and FDR D-EVO III detectors, as well as the FDR AQRO mobile system.
