Aspect Imaging Unveils Complete Line of Compact MRI Systems at ISMRM 2013

Multiple pre-clinical and industrial applications for this novel compact MRI platform

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, April 19, 2013 /CNW/ - Aspect Imaging, the world leading developer of compact high-performance magnets, today unveiled a complete line of compact MRI systems for pre-clinical and industrial applications. The four "M"-series compact MRI systems include new models for pre-clinical imaging of multiple species, for performing 3D MR-based Histology analysis for toxicology research and for performing industrial applications including real-time rheology analysis. The 3 new models complement the current M2 platform which is being used in the Bruker ICON™ compact MRI system, the industry-leading compact MRI system for pre-clinical research and drug development. The announcement is being made at the ISMRM (International Society for Magnetic Resonance in  Medicine) 21^st Annual Meeting, being held April 20 - 26, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This announcement coincides with another release by the company declaring that they have just received FDA clearance for their compact, high-performance MRI instrument for rapid, just-in-place clinical imaging of the wrist.

"We are excited to share our complete line of compact, high-performance MRI systems to the market to enable the broadest range of applications on our platform", says Uri Rapoport, Aspect Imaging's Founder and CEO. "It is fitting that we announce these systems at the ISMRM annual conference, where the leading researchers and MR experts come to see the latest in MRI solutions. To show how truly innovative, flexible and easy-to-use our platforms are, we have two compact MRI systems operating live on the exhibit floor, as well as four other compact MRI systems on display".

The Aspect Imaging compact MRI platform, unlike conventional high-field MRI systems, does not require a shielded room, cryogens, or high-capacity electrical power.  The "M"-series platform features an innovative self-shielded, permanent magnet that can be placed in most settings as it does not require special infrastructure. As such, it provides the researcher or clinician with the power of MRI but at a fraction of the cost and without the complexity of conventional MRI.

A M2 compact MRI system for diagnostic imaging of the wrist will be on display in Aspect Imaging's clinical booth #349 at the ISMRM Exhibition at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah from April 21 - 25, 2013. A live ICON compact high-performance MRI system (powered by the Aspect Imaging M2 platform) will also be demonstrating pre-clinical phenotyping in the Bruker Biospin booth (#328). In Aspect Imaging's second booth (#131), the four "M"-series compact MRI systems will be on display.

The M2/ICON will also be featured in a number of scientific posters at ISMRM 2013, including:

• Poster #0440: In Vivo Monitoring of Tumor Response to Anti-cancer Therapy Using MRI and a Novel Caspase-3 Activatable Gadolinium Contrast Agent for Imaging Apoptosis (Rutt, B. et al.)
• Poster #1692: Longitudinal Functional Imaging Of The Her-2/ Neu Transgenic Mouse Model Of Human Breast Cancer By DCE-MRI And Diffusion Weighted Imaging (Aime, S. et al.)
• Poster #4219: ParaCEST: imaging pH with high μeff Ln(III) complexes on a 1T permanent magnet (Aime, S., et al)

About Aspect Imaging:

Aspect Imaging (www.aspectimaging.com) is the world's leader in the design and development of high-performance compact MR imaging systems for pre-clinical, clinical and advanced industrial applications. In the clinical market, Aspect Imaging has multiple clinical programs underway including its system to provide highly efficient just-in-place compact MRI for imaging of the wrist. The system allows clinicians to harness the power and insights of MRI but without the cost, complexity and technical burden of traditional MRI systems.  In the pre-clinical research market, Aspect supplies its M2™ magnet, gradients and handling systems to Bruker for use in its leading ICON™ compact MRI platform.  Due to its high-performance M2 permanent magnet and suite of related products, the ICON enables academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies to harness the power and insights of MRI but without the cost, complexity and technical burden of traditional MRI systems. Pre-clinically, Aspect's M2 system is also used for providing 3D MR-based Histology to complement and direct pathology and histology-based analysis, as well as providing the M2 platform to Mediso Medical Systems for use in its nanoScan® integrated PET/MRI and SPECT/MRI systems. Aspect Imaging's novel permanent magnets are also used in advanced industrial applications including rheology where its MicroFlow™ platform can operate inline on large-scale production lines for food processing, consumer products, biofuels and other applications providing real-time, non-invasive and quantitative read-outs for process and quality control.

SOURCE: Aspect Imaging

Robert Sandler     
SVP, Marketing
Aspect Imaging
T. 416.274.8166
E. [email protected]