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February 10, 2012

Bassett’s new MRI machine features latest technology

BY JIM AUSTIN

THE COOPERSTOWN CRIER

Bassett Medical Center doctors now have the most advanced technology in magnetic resonance imaging that will allow doctors to more accurately diagnosis and treat patients, according to Bassett radiologist Dr. Lawrence Barnowsky.

Bassett unveiled its new technology – the wide-bore 3 Tesla MRI – in a brief ceremony Thursday during which Barnowksy described it as a “very, very powerful tool.”

“With this new technology, we’re seeing things we never saw before without surgery, like tumors in their earliest stages, tiny aneurysms and small cartilage tears,” he said. “

“It’s sort of like comparing older TV images to that of the newer high-definition flat screen monitors – there is more detail, more information, thus improving diagnostic accuracy. Those little details make the difference in how the doctor treats the  patient and helps with presurgicalplanning.”

“It’s an amazing tool. What we have here is the next generation in this type of equipment. There aren’t many in the country yet,” Bassett’s Chief of Radiology Dr. James Peters said, adding that it will do incredible imaging of the breast and will allow doctors to detect breast cancer much earlier.

Bassett’s new machine produces a magnetic field 60,000 times the strength of the earth’s magnetic field -- the strongest available today.

Image quality is related to magnetic field strength so the new machine will offer doctors a level of detail not seen before, Barnowsky said. The machine also features a wide-bore, or opening, that doctors say patients will find more comfortable and less claustrophobic than older machines.

“With this new MRI, the clarity of the image is incredible,” Peters said. “Just as important for the patient is the added space and comfort that comes with the 3T, which is the largest bore MRI made.”

Patients who were not able to fit into an MRI before can now be accommodated and patients with back pain will be able to bend their legs for comfort. Additionally, the system will be able to capture usable images despite slight movements of patients, such as young children and those with certain movement disorders.

Magnetic resonance imaging uses radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field to produce the detailed images of internal organs and tissues necessary for doctors to evaluate a patient and determine the best course of treatment.

MRI is used in diagnosing stroke, cancer, heart and vascular diseases, and orthopedic and neurological conditions.

Acquiring and installing the machine was a $3 million project, hospital officials said. Bassett makes about 4,000 magnetic resonance images a year, according to MRI Coordinator Daniel Wenck.

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