FAIRFAX, VA – February 23, 2026 – Inova was the first health system in the world to implement GE HealthCare’s SIGNA™ Sprint Elite[1], a next-generation MRI system developed to advance cardiac, oncologic and pediatric imaging, as well as imaging for patients with implanted devices. The system is designed to enable more efficient, high-resolution imaging while keeping patient comfort at the forefront.

GE HealthCare’s SIGNA Sprint Elite is a high-performance 1.5T MRI designed to provide power previously unattainable at 1.5T, allowing clinicians to visualize and evaluate structures with exceptional clarity. This high-performance platform leverages built-in AI technologies like AIR™ Recon DL, Sonic DL™ and AIR x™, which can help to enable high-quality imaging even in the most demanding anatomies. The combination is a significant advancement in cardiac imaging as well as for supporting personalized care pathways in oncologic and pediatric imaging.

The system also offers free-breathing imaging options, reducing or eliminating the need for patients to hold their breath during scans. This is especially beneficial for pediatric patients, older adults, and patients who are very ill or may feel claustrophobic, improving image quality while making exams more tolerable and accessible.
“This technology represents a significant step forward in precision imaging and patient-centered care,” said Melany B. Atkins, MD, Division Chief, Cardiovascular Imaging and Medical Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging at Inova. “Being selected as the first health system in the world to implement SIGNA Sprint Elite reflects our commitment to advancing care through innovation while always prioritizing the patient experience.”

Located at Inova Fairfax Hospital, the new SIGNA Sprint Elite MRI will be closely integrated with Inova Schar Heart and Vascular, creating a highly specialized hub for advanced cardiac imaging. This will allow for seamless collaboration among Inova’s nationally top-ranked heart and vascular teams while also expanding access for outpatients referred by community cardiologists and subspecialists. The system will support clinicians in advanced evaluation of complex and often underdiagnosed conditions such as cardiac amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and microvascular dysfunction – conditions that can be challenging to detect.

“The GE HealthCare system allows us to bring a high level of imaging expertise to both our most complex patients and to outpatients who need sophisticated diagnostics that might otherwise be missed,” said Christopher O’Connor, MD, president, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular.

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