GE Healthcare kicked off the annual RSNA meeting in Chicago with the launch of SIGNA Experience, a platform offering four synergistic solutions geared toward simplifying and speeding up MR imaging.

At the core of SIGNA Experience is a software platform called SIGNA One. Through SIGNA One, SIGNA Experience provides access to a range of AI applications for obtaining better images more quickly, as well as workflow solutions to help technologists set up scans more efficiently, and lightweight AIR Coils for greater freedom in coil positioning and handling during exams.

The AI capabilities of SIGNA Experience include the deep learning image reconstruction technology AIR Recon DL, which improves signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and image sharpness while reducing scan time.
Along with the SIGNA Experience package, GE has released a compatible MR scanner, SIGNA Victor, a 1.5T 60-cm system that is designed to handle higher patient throughput through efficient helium and power consumption.

"We will continue to develop deep learning (DL)-based reconstruction and acceleration. We will also further develop other anatomies such as spine, cardiac and prostate," Rob Peters, global product marketing director of MR AW & Apps at GE Healthcare, told HCB News.

“SIGNA Experience was designed in response to today’s industry pressures, to help achieve operational efficiency and simplicity, as clinicians face a significant volume of nonurgent backlog scans caused largely by the impact of COVID-19, radiologist shortages and staff burnout, as well as today’s growing disease burden,” said Jie Xue, president and CEO of MR at GE Healthcare, in a statement. "These technologies enable scanner operators of all skill levels to get the job done without compromising quality and output."

The user interface tracks progress, with the platform providing visual reminders to show what stage the scan is at and offer visually-assisted highlighted fields for a step-by-step guide. Intelligent automation determines the most likely action to follow a scan. The solution streamlines all MR exams, from head to toe.

Other SIGNA Experience applications include AIR x for automatic MR slice prescription based on a patient’s individual anatomy, and AIR Touch for automatic coil selection. The design accommodates the addition of more AI and workflow applications in the future.

Peters says that SIGNA Experience is geared toward "non-academic outpatient imaging centers" because they "tend to have a hard time finding experienced technologists," as well as "any type of facility that lacks skilled technologists."

SIGNA One is currently available on SIGNA Prime, a 1.5T MR scanner with a 60-centimeter bore.

MRI Homepage