GE Healthcare MultiDrive RF Transmit Brochure

GE Healthcare

MultiDrive RF Transmit

Consistently Clear.
Personalized Mr signal uniforMity.

New technologies bring new challenges.

The leap in image quality from 1.5T to 3.0T is
unquestionable, yet as MR technology improves,
new challenges continue to present themselves. For
example, shading artifacts are more demanding at

3.0T than 1.5T, particularly with abdominal exams.
As the 3.0T radio frequency (RF) energy penetrates
the body, it is more or less effective in certain areas
depending on the tissue it excites. This can create a
variation in the MR signal and cause image shading.

Add a wider patient bore design to these 3.0T systems,
and you can further complicate this issue since there
is less space for the whole-body RF transmit coil.
While larger bore designs greatly improve the patient
experience, steps must be taken to precisely control the
RF energy across the FOV to avoid increasing image
shading artifacts.

Introducing MultiDrive RF Transmit.

To meet this challenge, we’ve developed MultiDrive RF
Transmit to tighten RF control and virtually eliminate

3.0T image shading in a wide bore system. MultiDrive
uses the four-port drive, whole-body RF transmit coil
design introduced with the Discovery* MR750w to help
keep the RF uniform across the FOV.

Here’s how it works. First, independent exciters are
used to generate the RF pulse waveform shape,
amplitude and phase. These RF pulses are sent to
independent RF amplifiers before being applied to the
four ports of the RF body coil. However, MultiDrive goes
one step further. The phase and amplitude of each RF
pulse is modified before being applied to the RF coil.
This allows MultiDrive to automatically compensate
and virtually eliminate RF-induced signal shading
introduced by different body shapes and sizes. This
levels out the RF signal through the anatomy so it’s
uniform across the patient.

We needed a solution that balances 3.0T
technology with our wide bore design to

“

generate clear, uniform MR images for every

“

patient type.

– MR MultiDrive engineer

MultiDrive ensures the RF and amplitude of each pulse

1

are adapted for the anatomy of interest.

MultiDrive’s RF modification produces uniform MR

2

signal during reception.

MultiDrive automatically compensates and virtually

3

eliminates B1-induced signal shading across different
body shapes and sizes. The result is consistently clear
and uniform images.

1

2

3

The Per-Patient Optimization mode can be selected to
customize the RF system for each individual patient.
It executes a rapid calibration scan to create an RF
map over the region of interest. This additional scan
is 10 to 15 seconds long and can be performed in a
single breath-hold. At the end of the scan, the system
automatically calculates the optimal RF amplitude and
phase values based on the RF map data. This mode is
useful for challenging studies, such as extremely obese
patients, or when ascites are present.

Only GE offers the flexibility to choose either Preset
or Per-Patient modes with MultiDrive to generate
consistently clear and uniform MR images you’ve come
to expect.

Use the presets or customize yourself. It’s your choice.

MultiDrive has two modes of operation. The Preset
mode utilizes predetermined RF amplitude and phase
settings to generate the best possible image quality
over a broad range of patients. These values have
been determined based on a number of volunteers,
calculating the ideal RF settings for each scan and
then averaging the results. Optimized for the general
population, this mode requires no additional pre-scan
time and minimizes the required RF power and SAR
needed to create uniform images.

Just like the home theatre in your house,
MultiDrive allows you the flexibility to use the

“

presets or calibrate the settings yourself.

– MR MultiDrive engineer

“

Preset mode

The Preset mode utilizes predetermined RF
amplitude and phase settings to generate
the best possible image quality over a broad
range of patients.

Home theatre presets

MultiDrive’s Preset mode is similar to most
home theatre system presets for those who
have standard room sizes.

GE Healthcare
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Waukesha, WI 53188
U.S.A

www.gehealthcare.com

Per-Patient Optimization mode

The Per-Patient Optimization mode is
useful for challenging studies requiring
customization, such as extremely obese
patients, or when ascites are present.

©2011 General Electric Company – All rights reserved.

General Electric Company reserves the right to make changes
in specification and features shown herein, or discontinue
the product described at any time without notice or obligation.

GE and GE Monogram are trademarks of General Electric Company.

GE Healthcare, a division of General Electric Company.

* Trademark of General Electric Company

This technology is compatible with the following systems:

Discovery MR750w

Home theatre customization

The Per-Patient Optimization mode is
similar to the same customization offered
by speaker volume settings on most home
theatre systems for those who have larger
or smaller room sizes.

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