San Antonio-based South Texas Radiology Imaging Centers recently became the first healthcare institution in the United States to install the Magnetom Sola, a 1.5 Tesla (1.5T), 70-cm MRI scanner from Siemens Healthineers. The MRI scanner features a new magnet design, in addition to BioMatrix patient personalization technology.

“Siemens Healthineers is delighted to provide South Texas Radiology Imaging Centers with the first Magnetom Sola 1.5T scanner in the United States,” says Jane Kilkenny, vice president of MRI at Siemens Healthineers North America. “This cutting-edge scanner will support the institution’s goals of offering the latest imaging technology to an expanding population by delivering precise, personalized MRI services with exceptional speed, diagnostic accuracy, and patient comfort.”

The system’s BioMatrix technology addresses patients’ anatomical and physiological differences, as well as user variability to help healthcare providers perform a range of examinations while delivering consistent results for each patient. With the technology, the Magnetom Sola can help decrease rescans and increase productivity, according to Siemens officials.

The Magnetom Sola also possesses Turbo Suite, which enables the acceleration of routine scans, including musculoskeletal scans, by up to 50%. Additionally, Dot (Day optimizing throughput) technology can automate up to 90% of exams, Siemens officials say.

“Given the increasing costs of providing high-quality healthcare while hurdling the challenges of declining reimbursement, we chose a platform that was scalable across our enterprise,” says Gary Woodard, CEO for South Texas radiology imaging centers. “This allows us to manage our protocols while enabling technologists to customize care for each patient through protocol management under the real-time direction of the radiologist.”