ECHELON Smart
ECHELON Smart — Compact 1.5T MRI With Efficient Performance
The ECHELON Smart is a 1.5T superconductive MRI system developed to combine diagnostic image quality, examination speed, flexible installation, and controlled operating costs. Its compact design and extended cable length between the gantry and power unit provide greater flexibility when planning MRI facilities with limited equipment-room space.
Key Features
SmartCOMFORT — reduces MRI acoustic noise by up to 96%, depending on imaging conditions, while minimizing the effect on image contrast and examination time.
SmartSPEED — combines fast scanning, workflow tools, and on-console analysis to reduce overall examination time.
SmartECO — reduces unnecessary power consumption during periods of non-use while maintaining zero helium boil-off; the supplied information states up to 17% lower running costs.
SmartSPACE — provides flexible installation through an extended cable length between the main gantry and power unit.
SmartENGINE — uses high-speed signal digitization and image synthesis technology to improve the overall image S/N ratio by up to 8%, depending on the receiver coil and imaging conditions.
16-channel receiver system — improves reception sensitivity and stability, particularly during high-speed imaging.
High-performance gradient system — provides a slew rate of 130 mT/m/s to support short TE imaging and high-speed sequences such as EPI.
18 kW RF power system — provides stable RF transmission for demanding sequences including FSE.
SmartCOMFORT for Quieter Examinations
The SmartCOMFORT technology reduces acoustic noise by modifying the gradient magnetic field waveform and adjusting imaging parameters while maintaining a balance between imaging time, contrast, S/N ratio, and spatial resolution.
The supplied specifications indicate acoustic noise reduction of up to 96%, depending on imaging conditions. SmartCOMFORT can also be used with RADAR motion artifact reduction technology.
SmartSPEED for Efficient MRI Workflow
SmartSPEED combines imaging, operation, and analysis technologies to reduce total examination time. AutoPose and Parameter Guidance simplify routine operations, while fast scanning capabilities and techniques designed to reduce rescanning contribute to shorter examinations.
On-console analysis functions can also reduce the time required to transfer data to a separate workstation.
SmartECO and Flexible Installation
The SmartECO energy-saving function can stop the MRI cooling system for certain periods when the system is not in use or during non-consultation days. This reduces power consumption while maintaining zero helium boil-off. Lower heat generation from the cooling system can also reduce the power required for heat dissipation.
According to the supplied information, the system can achieve up to 17% lower running costs, depending on operating conditions.
The SmartSPACE design extends the cable between the MRI gantry and the power unit, allowing more flexible equipment-room layouts and helping address space limitations during installation.
Advanced Hardware for Image Quality
The SmartENGINE uses a high-speed A/D converter to directly digitize high-frequency signals, helping suppress noise. Its image synthesis technology adjusts the contribution of individual coil elements while accounting for noise correlation. This can improve the overall image S/N ratio by up to 8%, depending on the receiver coil and imaging conditions.
The 16-channel receiver system increases the number of receiver channels from eight to 16. This improves sensitivity and stability during high-speed imaging and supports low-noise imaging with multi-channel receiver coils.
The high-performance gradient system provides a slew rate of 130 mT/m/s, supporting shorter TE values, high-speed imaging, MRA, and sequences such as EPI.
An 18-kW RF power system provides stable RF transmission, including during FSE sequences that continuously apply refocusing pulses.
Integrated Imaging and Workflow Technologies
The ECHELON Smart combines its hardware with a range of supplied imaging and workflow technologies, including RADAR, Plaque Imaging, isoFSE, BeamSat TOF, VASC-ASL, BSI, FatSep, H-Sinc, TIGRE, T2/R2 RelaxMap, AutoPose, and Parameter Guidance**.
Together, these technologies are intended to support efficient operation while maintaining the system's focus on image quality, examination speed, and practical workflow.