The Future Prospects of Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition Based on Initial Experience
Yoshiharu Ohno, MD, PhD
At Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition, a new 3T system manufactured by Canon Medical Systems Corporation, has been in operation since April 2024. The magnet, which is the key to image quality, has been developed in-house by Canon. The new magnet makes it possible to improve magnetic field homogeneity as compared with currently applied magnets and scan with a larger field of view (FOV) than other 3T MRI systems produced by Canon Medical Systems. Moreover, deep learning-based super high-resolution technology named Precise IQ Engine (PIQE) can be applied to various sequences with the most recent system software. In addition, Zoom DWI for scanning smaller FOV is also available in this MR system. In this article, our initial experience with Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition will be described.
“Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition now enables screening of various trunk diseases and tumor diseases with high image quality.”
Yoshiharu Ohno, MD, PhD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan
Joint Research Laboratory of Advanced Medical Imaging
Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan
Image quality improvement by re-designed hardware
•Canon Medical Systems manufactured magnet
The magnet for the Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition is developed in-house at Canon Medical Systems' factory in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. For the magnet design, the coil position is optimized to meet a variety of conditions simultaneously with micron-level precision, so during the manufacturing stage they use extremely high-precision winding machines that can control it to the micron-level. With optimization of the design and manufacturing, a high magnetic field homogeneity of 0.05 ppm at a 30 cm diameter spherical volume (DSV) has been achieved.
The improved magnetic homogeneity achieved by this new in-house magnet enables the ability to obtain excellent MR images with a larger FOV than previously applied magnets. Figures 1 and 2 show T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) of the T-spine and L-spine taken with a conventional 1.5T or Canon Medical Systems’ 3T MRI system with an FOV of 30 x 30 cm, and original T2WI taken with a Vantage Galan 3T/ Supreme Edition with an FOV of 40 x 30 cm, and the image enlarged to be equivalent size to an FOV of 30 x 30 cm. Even when scanning with an FOV of 40 x 30 cm, the magnetic field homogeneity is equivalent to that of the conventional FOV of 30 x 30 cm. In addition, when an image with an FOV of 40 x 30 cm is enlarged to the same extent as an FOV of 30 x 30 cm, it is comparable to an image taken with an FOV of 30 x 30 cm, which means that stable large FOV examination is available. Therefore, it has become possible to improve the image quality of spine and whole-body MRI examinations, and to perform abdominal and pelvic examinations in one scan, which previously had to be done in two scans. Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition now enables screening of various trunk diseases and tumor diseases with high image quality.
The magnet for the Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition is developed in-house at Canon Medical Systems' factory in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. For the magnet design, the coil position is optimized to meet a variety of conditions simultaneously with micron-level precision, so during the manufacturing stage they use extremely high-precision winding machines that can control it to the micron-level. With optimization of the design and manufacturing, a high magnetic field homogeneity of 0.05 ppm at a 30 cm diameter spherical volume (DSV) has been achieved.
The improved magnetic homogeneity achieved by this new in-house magnet enables the ability to obtain excellent MR images with a larger FOV than previously applied magnets. Figures 1 and 2 show T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) of the T-spine and L-spine taken with a conventional 1.5T or Canon Medical Systems’ 3T MRI system with an FOV of 30 x 30 cm, and original T2WI taken with a Vantage Galan 3T/ Supreme Edition with an FOV of 40 x 30 cm, and the image enlarged to be equivalent size to an FOV of 30 x 30 cm. Even when scanning with an FOV of 40 x 30 cm, the magnetic field homogeneity is equivalent to that of the conventional FOV of 30 x 30 cm. In addition, when an image with an FOV of 40 x 30 cm is enlarged to the same extent as an FOV of 30 x 30 cm, it is comparable to an image taken with an FOV of 30 x 30 cm, which means that stable large FOV examination is available. Therefore, it has become possible to improve the image quality of spine and whole-body MRI examinations, and to perform abdominal and pelvic examinations in one scan, which previously had to be done in two scans. Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition now enables screening of various trunk diseases and tumor diseases with high image quality.
Figure 1: Same patient comparison of FOV difference of thoracic spine MRI on a 1.5T system with standard FOV and new 3T system with standard and large FOVs.
Figure 2: Comparison of FOV difference of lumber spine MRI on new 3T system with standard and large FOVs.
Currently, lung MRI is considered as one of the promising research fields, and ultra-short TE (UTE: TE<200 µs) technique is one of the keys for lung MRI. Lung MRI with UTE, which is called as UTE-MRI, can overcome the fundamental drawback for image quality due to the shorter T2* at 3T than 1.5T MR systems. However, the high magnetic field homogeneity of Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition provides better images with a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than other conventional 3T MRI with the same sequence and imaging conditions, and image quality of UTE-MR of the Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition is considered as equal to or better than that at other 1.5T MR systems. Therefore, it is expected that Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition will lead to further advances in lung MRI and progress lung MR examinations as proficiently as 1.5T MRI.
Figure 3: Comparison of UTE-MRI images between three systems on the same volunteer
•Cross-pattern Supported Gradient Coil (CSGC)
Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition also features a completely new gradient coil. The arrangement of the gradient coil support structure has been changed from a parallel to a cross pattern, making it possible to reduce vibration by up to 79%. This has resulted in an improvement in effective Gmax of 107% and effective slew rate of 110% compared to conventional models, and further improvements in image quality are expected.
Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition also features a completely new gradient coil. The arrangement of the gradient coil support structure has been changed from a parallel to a cross pattern, making it possible to reduce vibration by up to 79%. This has resulted in an improvement in effective Gmax of 107% and effective slew rate of 110% compared to conventional models, and further improvements in image quality are expected.
New System Software
•Expanded Precise IQ Engine (PIQE) Applications
PIQE is a deep learning-based super high-resolution technology to generate high resolution images with higher SNR from low resolution images with low SNR. When applying the neural networks, PIQE improves and optimizes blurring and ringing that occurs during zero-fill interpolation (ZIP). Therefore, PIQE makes image resolution higher and improves sharpness and SNR on generated MR images.
Previously, PIQE was only applicable to FSE 2D, but now, it can be applied to other 2D sequences including FSE. When applied to 2D FASE as a single-shot imaging sequence for increasing the resolution, it has problems with blurring and extended scan time due to the increased number of echoes. However, with PIQE, it is possible to achieve high resolution while maintaining the advantage of single-shot imaging, which is short and resistant to movement.
Figure 4 shows T2WI, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic MRI of a patient with breast cancer in the right CD region. Also Figure 5 shows a case of hepatic hemangioma, and Figure 6 shows a case of carcinoma of head of the pancreas. When PIQE is applied to fat-suppressed T2WI of the breast, T2WI of liver or fat-suppressed T2WI of the pancreas, PIQE provides 9 times higher spatial resolution with better image quality as compared with original T2WI with conventional reconstruction. Therefore, there is no need for rescanning or prolonging each examination time. With clinical installation of PIQE with Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition, high-resolution MR images will become available in daily clinical practice with various clinical aims. Therefore, we can expect PIQE will improve diagnostic capabilities of DWI or dynamic MRI with better morphological images demonstrating macroscopic pathology as more accurately than currently used images.
PIQE is a deep learning-based super high-resolution technology to generate high resolution images with higher SNR from low resolution images with low SNR. When applying the neural networks, PIQE improves and optimizes blurring and ringing that occurs during zero-fill interpolation (ZIP). Therefore, PIQE makes image resolution higher and improves sharpness and SNR on generated MR images.
Previously, PIQE was only applicable to FSE 2D, but now, it can be applied to other 2D sequences including FSE. When applied to 2D FASE as a single-shot imaging sequence for increasing the resolution, it has problems with blurring and extended scan time due to the increased number of echoes. However, with PIQE, it is possible to achieve high resolution while maintaining the advantage of single-shot imaging, which is short and resistant to movement.
Figure 4 shows T2WI, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic MRI of a patient with breast cancer in the right CD region. Also Figure 5 shows a case of hepatic hemangioma, and Figure 6 shows a case of carcinoma of head of the pancreas. When PIQE is applied to fat-suppressed T2WI of the breast, T2WI of liver or fat-suppressed T2WI of the pancreas, PIQE provides 9 times higher spatial resolution with better image quality as compared with original T2WI with conventional reconstruction. Therefore, there is no need for rescanning or prolonging each examination time. With clinical installation of PIQE with Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition, high-resolution MR images will become available in daily clinical practice with various clinical aims. Therefore, we can expect PIQE will improve diagnostic capabilities of DWI or dynamic MRI with better morphological images demonstrating macroscopic pathology as more accurately than currently used images.
Figure 4: Right breast cancer
Figure 5: Hepatic hemangioma
Figure 6: Pancreas head cancer
•Zoom DWI
Zoom DWI is a small FOV imaging technique for DWI. Since the excitation pulses are rotated by a certain angle related to the refocus pulses, it is possible to eliminate aliasing artifacts in the PE direction. Zoom DWI is also used with PIQE. Figure 7 shows conventional DWI and Zoom DWI in a patient with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. Zoom DWI was reconstructed with PIQE with higher resolution images than conventional DWI images. With the combination of Zoom DWI and PIQE to examine appropriate clinical purposes, DWI can provide higher resolution with better SNR images than conventional DWI and improve diagnostic performance or patient management in routine clinical practice.
Figure 8 shows T2WI, conventional DWI and Zoom DWI in a patient with prostate cancer.
T2WIs were reconstructed by conventional reconstruction method and PIQE. In contrast to T2WI, conventional DWI was obtained with larger FOV and reconstructed with conventional reconstruction, although Zoom DWI was obtained smaller FOV and reconstructed with PIQE. Zoom DWI reconstructed by PIQE shows higher spatial resolution and better SNR, when both DWIs obtained with the same scan conditions and times. When comparing Zoom DWI with conventional DWI, image quality of Zoom DWI at b=1500s/mm2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map from Zoom DWI were markedly and significantly improved than those from conventional DWI with improving image distortion and depicting smaller lesions with better image quality.
Zoom DWI is a small FOV imaging technique for DWI. Since the excitation pulses are rotated by a certain angle related to the refocus pulses, it is possible to eliminate aliasing artifacts in the PE direction. Zoom DWI is also used with PIQE. Figure 7 shows conventional DWI and Zoom DWI in a patient with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. Zoom DWI was reconstructed with PIQE with higher resolution images than conventional DWI images. With the combination of Zoom DWI and PIQE to examine appropriate clinical purposes, DWI can provide higher resolution with better SNR images than conventional DWI and improve diagnostic performance or patient management in routine clinical practice.
Figure 8 shows T2WI, conventional DWI and Zoom DWI in a patient with prostate cancer.
T2WIs were reconstructed by conventional reconstruction method and PIQE. In contrast to T2WI, conventional DWI was obtained with larger FOV and reconstructed with conventional reconstruction, although Zoom DWI was obtained smaller FOV and reconstructed with PIQE. Zoom DWI reconstructed by PIQE shows higher spatial resolution and better SNR, when both DWIs obtained with the same scan conditions and times. When comparing Zoom DWI with conventional DWI, image quality of Zoom DWI at b=1500s/mm2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map from Zoom DWI were markedly and significantly improved than those from conventional DWI with improving image distortion and depicting smaller lesions with better image quality.
Figure 7: Carcinoma of head of the pancreas
Figure 8: Prostate Cancer
Conclusion
Canon Medical Systems provides a new 3T system, Vantage Galan 3T / Supreme Edition, with a new in-house developed magnet and clinically set the newest system software, which enables the ability to obtain MR images with large FOV, improve image quality of UTE-MRI, expand the applications of deep learning-based super-high reconstruction technique so called PIQE and acquire Zoom DWI with smaller FOV. Therefore, image quality in trunk region has been improved. With the above-mentioned new products and techniques, we believe further clinical potential and relevance will be demonstrated by this new 3T system in the near future. //
Disclaimer
The clinical results, performance and views described in this document are the experience of the health care providers. Results may vary due to clinical setting, patient presentation and other factors. Many factors could cause the actual results and performance of Canon’s product to be materially different from any of the aforementioned.
Some features presented in this article may not be commercially available on all systems shown or may require the purchase of additional options. Due to local regulatory processes, some commercial features included in this publication may not be available in some countries. Please contact your local representative from Canon Medical Systems for details and the most current information.
The AI technology was trained during the development phase. When implemented into the product, the AI function no longer self-learns.
Yoshiharu Ohno, MD, PhD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan
Joint Research Laboratory of Advanced Medical Imaging
Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan
Professor and Chairman
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan
Joint Research Laboratory of Advanced Medical Imaging
Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan
Due to medical device regulatory reasons, not all products/service displayed on this Canon Medical Systems global webpage are available in all countries, regions or markets. Future availability of the products/service cannot also be guaranteed. Please contact your local Canon Medical Systems representative for further details.
