eXP Sequences
Sequences are the heart of magnetic resonance imaging. Esaote designs them in-house so that image quality is determined as early as the acquisition stage — eXP systems offer the SPED, MAR and 3D Iso sequences.
SPED
SPED is a Spin Echo sequence with fat and water separation based on the Dixon technique. It provides contrast close to that of a FATSAT examination, which makes it a valuable complement to the existing fat-suppression sequences.
Key features:
- A sequence that is resistant to artefacts and less prone to producing them.
- Simultaneous morphological information and fat-suppressed images.
- The possibility of obtaining different contrast, T1 or PD, depending on the TR selected.
- Effectiveness in the presence of metal implants.
MAR
The number of patients with metal implants is steadily rising. In the United States it is estimated that 2.4% of the population, that is 7.2 million people, have a hip or knee replacement (Mayo Clinic data, 2014).
MAR uses advanced gradient control to suppress or limit metal-induced distortion in the imaging plane and to maintain optimal image quality. The sequence improves imaging of patients after surgical procedures.
Stecco A. et al., Radiol Med. 2019 May;124(5):392-399. doi: 10.1007/s11547-018-0973-5
3D Iso
Fine details can determine the diagnosis. The 3D HYCE and 3D SHARC sequences, based on balanced Steady State Free Precession, make it possible to capture large volumes in a short time.
Characteristics:
- High resolution, down to 0.4 mm in every anatomical plane, allowing fine structures to be visualised.
- Imaging of the selected anatomical region in all three planes within a single sequence.
- Reduced partial volume artefacts and better depiction of structures that do not lie in a single plane.
- Fast and flexible post-processing thanks to multiplanar reconstruction (MPR).