VIENNA – Imagine telling your anxious patients that they can have virtual reality experiences while getting an MRI. It’s not a far-off fantasy. It is reality with technology developed by Canon Corp. and Canon Medical Systems and it will be on display during the ECR (European Congress for Radiology), March 2-6, in Vienna.

Canon has been focused on easing MRI stress for quite some time and previously released a 72-cm large-aperture open-bore MRI system with Pianissimo quiet scan technology. This newly developed projection technology expands on that concept and further improves patient comfort while reducing stress during the MRI exam by projecting high-reality images onto a dome-shaped screen.

The semi-transparent dome screen moves in synchronization with the patient table installed inside the bore. Images are projected onto the dome screen and bore cover from a projector installed behind the MRI system from a location that is unaffected by the magnetic field. The images are reflected by a mirror on the patient table, providing a view that helps take the patient’s attention away from the actual examination space.

Canon Corp. developed the core technologies used in the in-vehicle head-up display and ultra-high presence head-mounted display systems. In addition to the center field, where the colors and shapes of objects are processed, image stimulus is applied to the peripheral field, where special depth and width and object movements are processed, achieving high-reality images with a view angle as wide as 60 degrees or more. The images appear as if they were much further away than the bore core, providing an expansive and bright virtual space for the patient. “A virtual reality that substantially improves patient comfort during the procedure”, says Dirk Berneking, Business Unit Manager MRI with Canon Medical Systems Europe. The images can be viewed continuously without changing the image size even as the table moves during the MRI exam.

Combined with noise reduction, this new technology will help make a patient more comfortable and less anxious while in the MRI bore. Canon is striving for early commercial release of this newest MRI feature.

Canon in-bore MRI head-up display

For more information about virtual reality image technology in MRI systems, visit Canon at our booth 320 in Expo X2.


About Canon Medical Systems Europe

With headquarters in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, Canon Medical Systems Europe (CMSE) markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and cardiovascular equipment, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in Europe. For more information, visit the CMSE website at http://toshiba-medical.eu

About Canon Medical Systems Corporation

Canon Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. Canon Medical Systems Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Canon Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon. Visit Canon Medical Systems Corporation’s website at https://global.medical.canon

About Canon

Canon Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Canon Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Canon promotes global operations and is contributing to the realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Canon is at the heart of a global network of over 580 consolidated companies employing 199,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.6 trillion yen (US$55 billion). To find out more about Canon, visit http://www.toshiba.co.jp

VIENNA – Canon Medical Systems Europe is launching the Innovation 2016 upgrade for the Aplio Platinum line of ultrasound systems – an impressive portfolio of premium features assembled over the past 12 months – and visitors to the ECR (European Congress of Radiology) March 2-6 in Vienna will get a first-hand look and feel at the company’s leading-edge technologies.

Assembled as a toolkit for clinicians, Innovation 2016 upgrade brings new capabilities to radiologists using the Aplio Platinum line in everyday practices, including 3D Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging (SMI), 3D Shear Wave Elastography, Fusion Imaging and Real-Time 3D Needle Tracking.

“Providing these enhancements delivers on Canon’s commitment to putting customers first by continuously adding value to the existing platform through upgrades with the most advanced technology available”, said Christoph Simm, Ultrasound Business Manager of Canon Medical Systems Europe.

SMI is considered a game-changer since it allows clinicians to see smaller vessels in and around tumors, inflamed tissues, lymph nodes and other structures because of visualization of low velocity flow far beyond the conventional Doppler techniques. Significantly, visualization of microvasculature is improved without the need for contrast agents.

Another important feature is enhanced Smart Fusion imaging on the Aplio 500 Platinum Series combined with the new Real-Time 3D Needle Tracking. The combination can greatly extend a clinic’s ability to respond to increasing demand for biopsies and ablations of tumors. Once the CT or MRI data is loaded into the Aplio system, the image-fusion guided procedure can be performed under real-time ultrasound control in a very convenient and quick set-up wherever a patient can be correctly positioned. There is no longer a need to wait for a theater with an intraoperative CT or MRI when using Smart Fusion imaging and Real-Time 3D Needle Tracking.

Shear Wave Elastography has been integrated into the Aplio Platinum platform, making a significant clinical impact by adding unique features for mapping and quantifying tissue elasticity via shear wave propagation. Clinicians are able to better diagnose and document disease because the new enhancement displays simultaneous views of the shear wave propagation  in a region of interest with the absolute value of elasticity, giving them confidence in the quality and reliability of the exam. In the Innovation 2016 version, shear wave elasticity maps can be measured even in 3D.

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To learn more about the Innovation 2016 with the Version 6 upgrade for the Aplio Platinum line of ultrasound systems and Canon Medical Systems Europe, visit our booth 320 in Expo X2 and join our lunch symposium and our hands-on workshops.


About Canon Medical Systems Europe

With headquarters in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, Canon Medical Systems Europe (CMSE) markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and cardiovascular equipment, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in Europe. For more information, visit the CMSE website at http://toshiba-medical.eu

About Canon Medical Systems Corporation

Canon Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. Canon Medical Systems Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Canon Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon. Visit Canon Medical Systems Corporation’s website at https://global.medical.canon

About Canon

Canon Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Canon Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Canon promotes global operations and is contributing to the realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Canon is at the heart of a global network of over 580 consolidated companies employing 199,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.6 trillion yen (US$55 billion). To find out more about Canon, visit http://www.toshiba.co.jp