Siemens Introduces Total Imaging Matrix (Tim)

Siemens Introduces Total Imaging Matrix (Tim)

New Delhi, February 1, 2006 Siemens Medical Solutions (Med) has brought a new era in Magnetic Resonance Tomography, body scanning known as Total Imaging Matrix (TIM) that allows for whole-body imaging in a single session.

According to a company press release with introduction of the new Tim technology Gone are the requirements for full body scanning that called for changing body coils, for repositioning patients or for retroactively combining images into one complete image in a time-consuming way.

“With this new technology the exposure time for a scan from head to toe is now reduced to 12 minutes, TIM’s impressive improvement for the workflow in hospitals and private practices. The TIM scan system brand named Magnetom Avanto, first of its kind has been installed at Diwan Chand Satyapal Aggarwal DCA imaging and research center in New Delhi’ said Mr D. Ragavan, medical solutions division, Siemens.

Dr Sudershan Aggarwal, Chairman DCA Imaging and Research center said “This technology allows for whole body imaging in a single sitting virtually eliminating the need for patient repositioning. With a reduction in exposure time for head-to-toe scan to 12 minutes, this results in 80 per cent elimination of claustrophobia, dramatic noise reduction and vastly improved workflow in hospitals and practices, along with lower life cycle cost.”

The crux of TIM technology is the revolutionary matrix coil concept, which not only makes whole body imaging possible, but also enhances acquisition speed and image quality, he added.
The technology allows the flexibility of expanding the anatomical region of interest instantly without repositioning of the patient, which reduces the scan time by more than half, to as little as 12 minutes.

Virtually all applications can be done through the unique “feet first” position, instead of head-first. Additionally, built-in is an “audio comfort package” which reduces the noise level further making the procedure less stressful for the patient. Till date, the options that existed was whole body imaging with a compromise on the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR), which is responsible for improving the image quality or maintaining the high SNR but have only local coverage, he added.