Health Devices. 2006 Jun;35(6):189-230.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems manipulate magnetic fields and radio-frequency signals to create diagnostic images of human anatomy. An MR system is an essential clinical tool, but the cost of buying and installing one is high, so it's crucial that hospitals choose a model carefully. The selection process is made more complex by the numerous options available: different field strengths, gradient systems, coils, and channels, to name just a few. Also, some systems are better than others at facilitating specialized imaging, such as breast and cardiac studies. Our Evaluation is intended to help clarify the choices. We tested three 1.5-tesla systems from three suppliers--GE, Siemens, and Toshiba. We rate the systems for two different uses: inpatient imaging (performed in hospitals) and outpatient imaging (most often performed in imaging centers). For inpatient facilities, which are likely to have less responsive patients and to treat more complex medical problems, the most important purchase considerations will be patient positioning features, advanced imaging capabilities, and system integration. For outpatient facilities, the ability to perform routine exams efficiently and comfortably will be most important. We also provide separate ratings for each system's ability to meet the needs of three specialized applications--breast imaging, cardiac imaging, and functional MRI.
磁共振成像（MRI）系统通过操控磁场和射频信号来生成人体解剖结构的诊断图像。磁共振系统是一种重要的临床工具，但购买和安装成本高昂，因此医院谨慎选择型号至关重要。众多的可选配置使得选择过程更加复杂：仅举几例，就有不同的场强、梯度系统、线圈和通道。此外，一些系统在辅助进行诸如乳腺和心脏检查等特殊成像方面比其他系统更具优势。我们的评估旨在帮助明确这些选择。我们测试了来自通用电气（GE）、西门子和东芝这三家供应商的三台1.5特斯拉的系统。我们针对两种不同用途对这些系统进行评级：住院成像（在医院进行）和门诊成像（大多在影像中心进行）。对于住院设施，患者可能反应较慢且治疗的医疗问题更为复杂，最重要的购买考量因素将是患者定位功能、先进的成像能力和系统集成。对于门诊设施，高效且舒适地进行常规检查的能力将最为重要。我们还针对每个系统满足乳腺成像、心脏成像和功能磁共振成像这三种特殊应用需求的能力给出单独评级。
