They also invested significant efforts (evening event in a nearby event hall) and money presenting their new 3T MRI VIDA with BioMatrix system. I probably did not listen well enough and probably did not understand all of the new technologies that are integrated, particularly a more personalised scanning approach, but no real disruption yet (this is also nothing that they claimed).

Other new 3T systems included the VANTAGE GALAN from Toshiba and the HITACHI ECHELON SMART. If you look at the optics only ... a MRI is a MRI is a MRI ... or in other words "all kind of the same". The GE 3T was already presented at the RSNA and has a slightly more different and more exciting look ... if you only look on the outside and have my taste that would be the preferred design. As a PHILIPS supporter you would now say "what about us?" Answer: Inside improvements, outside no or very little change. Good or bad? Up to you to decide.

What else was exciting for me? Three companies that offer MRI and/or Ultrasound guided High Focused Ultrasound Therapy systems — all from East-Asia. One company — I already saw them at the 2016 RSNA — offered an insert (1 hour installation / deinstallation according to the manufacturer - EPISONICA) for all 60cm or 70cm bore MRI's.

And I also was hyped by the emergence of machine learning (eg CONTEXTFLOW for CT lung images) offerings for semi-automatic evaluation and analysis. Much more will come in the very near future also from the large vendors that all are working on Artificial Intelligence and Machine/Deep Learning algorithms ... I am absolutely sure on that.

Not technologically exciting, but from a price point of view surprising — complete point of care ultrasound systems from China for €1.500 including a multi-frequency probe and the display unit!

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