What about 1T systems and open MRIs?

While 3T technology beckons to all and 1.5T is dominant today, there are still many 1T systems now in use. And the good news is - particularly for those faculties with budget issues - that 1Ts still qualify for reimbursement in the eyes of CareCore National, one of the most influential consultants to the medical insurance industry.


In fact, all 1T systems manufactured in 2002 or later, "will be permitted to perform all examinations including angiographic, MRCP, and breast studies,"
according to an official document on CareCore's website. Machines built before that date also qualify for most procedures, and if the operator can demonstrate a machine has sufficient gradient strength, it can qualify for reimbursements
for additional studies.

The main reason 1T machines have been eclipsed by 1.5T is the fact that 1.5T machines produce better images than 1T machines and cost about the same to manufacture, so most of the OEMs stopped making 1T equipment about one or two years ago for the U.S. market. That small price difference, however, is not true when going from 1.5T to 3T, where the investment is approximately double.

Sales of open MRs, which until a few years ago had a significant market share, have fallen off due to the fact that there are technical challenges with open
MRs that put an upper limit on field strength.

Michael Brandt of Philips observed, "as a general statement, the market for open systems in the U.S. has greatly depreciated in the last 24 months." That's due in large part, according to Brandt, because everyone is focused on the highfield
tubular market. "At Philips, however, we have a very good high-field open system, and we have grossly improved our market share. I think most of our competitors have exited the open market, but we have not. And we're quite happy being the dominant player in this segment,"

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