Mahajan Imaging, Delhi is the first healthcare facility in Asia to install Silent MRI in India. GE's exclusive Silent Scan technology is designed to reduce MR scanner noise to near ambient (background) sound levels and thus improve a patient's MR exam experience. Conventional MR scanners can generate noise in excess of 110 dBA (decibels) levels, roughly equivalent to rock concerts.

"One drawback of MRI scans is that they are loud, generating as much noise as a rock concert or an airplane engine. Noisy MRI scans can be quite disturbing, especially brain scans in elderly and children, and hence, since patient comfort is paramount for getting accurate, high-quality images, sometimes we need to repeat scans to get high quality images. With this new Silent MRI, we are able to get exceptionally high-quality images of the anatomy the first time, since MRI noise is virtually inaudible and the patient is relaxed. This is in-line with our mission of bringing the latest and most-advanced medical technologies into the country." said Dr Harsh Mahajan, director, Mahajan Imaging, a Padmashri awardee.

Noise is one of the major complaints from patients who undergo a MRI exam. Historically, medical manufacturers have addressed the noise issue by muffling it using a combination of acoustic dampening material or even degrading MRI machine performance in order to reduce the noise level.

Two years ago, GE engineers initiated their quest to reduce noise during an MRI scan. They developed -Silent Scan Technology, a radical new type of 3D MR acquisition methodology, a combination of proprietary high-fidelity gradient and RF system electronics, by which the noise is not merely dampened but is virtually eliminated at the source. The Silent Scan Technology is co-developed in India by GE.

"Silent MRI puts patients first. It is part of our efforts to humanize MRI systems and make them patient friendly and safe without compromising on image quality. The Silent Scan technology is co-developed in India by our engineers. While it is a boon for patients, it also potentially allows a healthcare facility to see more patients with fewer repeat scans or recalls." said Dr Karthik Kuppusamy, senior director, MRI Imaging, GE Healthcare South Asia. Silent Scan is available on new as well as existing Discovery MR750w with GEM and Optima MR450w with GEM systems.