Connectivity is very important both within a hospital and also for communicating with

referring doctors and patients. This is because of googlisation of healthcare. Let me just
elaborate. First of all, for a hospital or a diagnostic imaging centre there are various
diagnostic equipment and pathology tests which need to be quickly connected to each
other while reporting to referring doctors. Secondly, diagnostic imaging is now spreading
out deeper, to smaller towns and cities and there is a need for faster connectivity in
releasing the reports online to many referring doctors and patients.

The newly launched MRI product has digital broadband technology, tell us how this
makes a difference to the image clarity?

Most of the 1.5T MRIs have conventional analog copper cables to carry the analog data
from the magnet room to equipment room. While carrying the signal there is an external
environmental noise which leads to signal loss. So, while receiving the data in the
equipment room, which is 10-15 feet away, the signal-to-noise ratio decreases. MR360
Advance is designed to feature the digital broadband MR technology, the data will now
be carried using optical fibre cable which will significantly reduce the effect of noise and
improve the signal to noise ratio. OpTix offers high channel count, analog to digital
signal conversion where it matters – inside the scan room to minimise noise and signal
degradation, but away from the patient to enhance comfort and safety. OpTix provides up
to 27 per cent higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over conventional, analog signal
receivers, improving image quality and clinical confidence.

Does higher clarity in image provide any diagnostic advantage to the physician as
compared to the normal MRI image?

Yes, MR360 Advance Digital broadband MRI provides superior high definition image
quality

Kindly explain how the ownership cost of the new MRI will be lower than the
existing MRIs in the market?

The ownership cost of the new MRI will be lower than the existing MRIs in the market in
following ways. Our new MRI product is engineered to use ecomagination-certified
technologies like efficient gradients, water-cooling, super capacitors, and a power
distribution unit, reducing power consumption by 50 per cent as compared to similar
premium 1.5T competitor MR systems. With all of these ecomagination features, these
systems are intended to lower the total cost of ownership while still delivering excellent
clinical performance. Other premium 1.5T systems requires UPS ratings of 100-140KVA
while MR360 Advance uses only 60KVA UPS.

Advanced applications like propeller 3.0 which helps in motion correction while neuro,
body and musculoskeletal imaging will help to reduce rescans. It reduces effects of
patient voluntary and physiologic motion and thus reduces artefacts and rescans.
The product also helps to save on use of contrast agents through the needle free suite
consisting of Inhance Suite- Arterial and venous flow anywhere in the body with no need
for contrast. Its other features are:

 3D ASL – Non contrast, whole brain, quantitative perfusion assessment rapidly

and accurately assess tumour perfusion, TIA, stroke, stenosis, etc.
 3D Heart – Non-contrast heart vasculature in clear details simply and precisely
evaluate arterio-venous malformation, aortic dissection, etc.

MRI has been advocated as a better means to view abdominal tissue specifically
liver. What is your opinion on the same?

MR abdominal imaging is increasing rapidly. GE has many breakthrough applications

which are not available in conventional 1.5T MRI. For example, one of them is IDEAL
IQ for needle free liver fat and iron quantification. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD) is an emerging cause of chronic liver disease and can lead to cirrhosis,
hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. The prevalence is on par in the Indian
population due to increasing socio-economic status. It is paralleling the epidemics of
diabetes and obesity. Liver biopsy is the current gold standard and can establish a definite
diagnosis, determine the severity of the condition and provide information about
prognosis. However, it is invasive and associated with complications, and suffers from
sampling variability. The lack of a safe, inexpensive, and non-invasive method for
accurate identification and quantitative grading of NAFLD has been a major barrier to
understanding its epidemiology and pathophysiology. It has the potential of becoming a
rapid, accurate, and non-invasive test for the estimation of hepatic fat content without the
need for performance of percutaneous liver biopsy.

Which imaging facilities (in what geographical and economical settings) will be
benefited by having a MRI system such as yours?

Both hospital and diagnostic centres across the geographies can benefit from the MR360
Advance. We have already installed our MR systems in tier I, II and III towns

What is the approximate cost of the machine? Where does it stand (in terms of cost)
in the present array of machines in the market? (high end/ low end?)

It approximately costs Rs 5.5 crores. It is one of the most advanced and premium systems
developed in the US with an affordable price and low total cost of ownership.

MRI is an expensive technology. What are you doing to address the price point issue
as India is demanding less expensive diagnostics?

Through this Advance MR 360 system, which is one of the most advanced and premium
systems developed in the US, we are getting it to India with an affordable price and low
total cost of ownership. It has all the premium 3.0T MR technology and applications in
1.5T now.