Aspect Imaging, a life-science company, and Seoul National University’s Department of Nuclear Medicine are presenting a commercial product for simultaneous PET/MRI operation, the first of its kind, at the 2016 World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC) in New York, booth #214.
The innovative system combines state-of-the-art technology from both fields, integrating Aspect Imaging’s M7 compact MRI with SNU’s novel PET insert “SimPET.” The M7 MRI was designed for easy, non-invasive imaging of mice and rats, providing exquisite soft tissue contrast for anatomical studies. Moreover, SimPET, also compact and completely compatible with M7 compact MRI, offers superior detection sensitivity of hyper-metabolic activity. Together, the combined system allows the flexibility of both simultaneous as well as standalone operation.
Currently, this is the one and only commercially available complete simultaneous PET/MRI solution with an existing install base, offering a major advantage to scientists from a wide variety of research fields including oncology, cardiology and neurology. The multi-modality compact system enables faster workflow, without the need for operators to move subjects between lab instruments sometimes located in various locations within a research facility, or even an entirely separate research facility. Moreover, it is the only integrated system with performance documented in numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals including a full NEMA NU-4 evaluation.
Simultaneous PET/MRI reduces total experiment time while the internal structure of the magnet absorbs a substantial amount of the radiation. Additionally, the streamlined nature of the process means that unnecessary exposure to the radiation is considerably reduced, making this technique safer for researchers and lab technicians than the lengthier sequential processes such as CT/PET or sequential MRI/PET imaging.
In addition, the system is outstandingly compact in its design, enabling flexibility and mobility, and using the lowest power consumption in the industry. It also has excellent PET detector stability, requiring no active cooling or temperature control of the electronics. Because both the PET and MRI systems offer excellent performance and stability, the combined PET/MRI scanner produces very high image quality.
“At Aspect Imaging, we are continually looking for ways to make research more efficient and productive,” said Uri Rapaport, founder, president & CEO of Aspect Imaging. “We feel confident that combining our MRI technology with SimPET, today’s most innovative animal PET insert fully working in animal dedicated MRI machines, will vastly simplify the preclinical research phase.”
“SimPET is an advanced silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) based PET insert for truly simultaneous PET/MR imaging with very compact design and low power consumption, and excellent PET detector stability” explained Jae Sung Lee, professor of Seoul National University and founder of Brightonix Imaging. “Excellent performance and stability of the novel combined PET/MRI system is being well demonstrated in various ongoing rodent imaging studies performed in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Seoul National University.”
Aspect Imaging has signed an exclusive business partnership, including a long-term investment plan, with the creator of SimPET, Brightonix Imaging, to launch the new simultaneous PET/MRI integrated product. The system will be available for $699,000. However, Aspect Imaging is now offering the system for $499,000 until end of 2016.
About Aspect Imaging
Aspect Imaging is part of Aspect Intl. LLC, a Singapore based company and a leader in the design and development of compact MR imaging and NMR systems for medical, advanced industrial and preclinical applications. Founded in 2014 the company is headed by Uri Rapoport, who has founded and led several Israeli and U.S. companies in the fields of NMR and MRI. He holds multiple worldwide and U.S. patents in the fields of NMR, MRI, and GPS (www.aspectimaging.com).
About the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Seoul National University
The Department of Nuclear Medicine at Seoul National University led by Prof. Keon W. Kang performs cutting-edge research in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. It is the first IAEA Collaborating Center for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging for research and training.
(Source: Business Wire)
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