At the 2014 RSNA annual meeting,  Siemens Healthcare announced plans for the next addition to its MRI portfolio, the Magnetom Amira 1.5 Tesla system (not yet commercially available). While the Magnetom Amira boasts the same technologies available on Siemens’ flagship MRI systems, it will be distinguished by its low operating costs, according to the company.

Designed to be the first Siemens MRI scanner to make use of “Eco-Power” technology, the system provides significant power savings in standby mode. Eco-Power, which is activated during standby, monitors the liquefaction cycle and manages the cooling and helium re-liquefaction process more efficiently, potentially enabling a power savings of up to 30% in standby mode.

As currently designed, the system will be released with DotGO, the company’s latest generation of MRI examination software. DotGO will help clinicians simplify protocol management and optimize the operating sequence for each individual scan. This software is intended to help increase exam consistency, reproducibility, and efficiency.

The Magnetom Amira is intended to meet the requirements of radiology practices, small and medium-sized hospitals, and larger facilities that are interested in a scanner to complement their existing systems.