Aspect Imaging announced on Monday that it's chosen Natus Medical Incorporated to be the exclusive distributor of the Embrace Neonatal MRI System in the U.S.

The system is for a hospital's NICU and is specifically designed to image the neonatal head.

Aspect Imaging designs and develops complete, compact MR and nuclear MR systems. As part of the agreement, it will make the Embrace system available to its customer base.
The system inked a deal with Siemens’ PETNET Solutions in July. Dr. Vasum Peiris of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health said at the time that having a system in the NICU is safer for the neonates.

Traditional MR scanners are typically used to image this patient population, but that requires taking the babies out of the NICU to MR suites.

The Embrace Neonatal MR can be placed in the NICU environment because it doesn't require a safety zone or radiofrequency shielded room. It also doesn't require MR-conditional devices in or nearby the NICU since it's fully enclosed.

The system is also equipped with a temperature-controlled incubator, which helps prevent the babies from moving. If the baby needs to be retrieved during the exam, they can usually be removed from the system in less than 30 seconds.

In addition to the distributor agreement, Natus will also gain equity participation in Aspect Imaging.

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