An Innovative Solution

Performance Advantages

MedTrak’s design combines the benefits of a fixed patient system with the cost efficiency of a fixed magnet system. The innovative patient transport significantly reduces or eliminates the risks associated with moving a patient, simplifying the imaging/surgery transitions and optimizing the utility of the suite. The system provides continuous anesthesia and smooth, controlled motion while costing significantly less than a moving magnet.

Only MedTrak electronically controls the patient motion to limit the patient’s acceleration to safe levels and moves the patient on ceiling rails to reduce the chance that anything could disturb the motion. This allows the MedTrak system to insure patient stability, a benefit that can otherwise only be attained with a fixed patient/moving magnet system.

MedTrak maintains continuous anesthesia during all phases of the procedure by linking the anesthesia machine, the patient monitoring system and all other patient support equipment directly to the patient’s bed. The bed’s vertical support functions as an anesthesia/equipment boom, continuously supplying gasses and power so the patient support equipment functions without interruption, even during motion from the surgical location to the imaging location. In addition, the extra length for all lines, tubing and cables that is required when the patient moves into the magnet is also handled automatically. This gives the staff confidence that the airway, IV’s and any monitoring connections are stable and safe, a level of confidence normally associated with a fixed patient/moving magnet system.

MedTrak only links the patient support equipment to the transport system while the patient is moved between the surgery location and the imaging location. For other phases of the procedure the equipment can be moved to any convenient location, such as at the patient’s head for induction.

Financial and Workflow Advantages

Moving the patient to the imager provides workflow and financial advantages. A workflow advantage is experienced during every imaging session because the surgery/imaging transitions are simpler and faster. Only the patient and their associated support equipment are exposed to the magnet. The OR is not re-organized to accommodate a magnet. No one has to push the anesthesia cart and IV pole at the same pace as the patient and monitor the tension on the IV tubing or the breathing circuit.

MedTrak has cost advantages for new construction compared to a moving magnet system because the OR can be constructed as a standard OR without MR requirements, the rail structure is simpler and less expensive and there are no limitations on the equipment that can be used in the OR. An even more dramatic financial advantage is experienced for renovations because a moving magnet requires installation of RF shielding in the OR, usually requiring demolition to expose the studs. Not only does the MedTrak system avoid this cost, it also preserves the revenue that the OR would otherwise lose during this time.

MedTrak’s design allows the OR and the MR to be used independently, which is critical for the economic viability of the suite. The MR can perform diagnostic scans and the OR can perform standard surgeries when hybrid procedures are not scheduled. The ability of each room to generate revenue on its own is required for the significant investment that they represent.

MedTrak’s patient handling system can be added to any 70cm bore MR scanner and is typically added to a high field MR system to take advantage of their excellent image quality. MedTrak has the only iMRI system that is independent of a magnet vendor.

MedTrak vs. Competition

	MedTrak	Medtronic Polestar	GE, Siemens, Philips	IMRIS
Continuous Anesthesia	+Continuous anesthesia is provided.	+Continuous anesthesia is provided.	−Anesthesia is interrupted temporarily as the patient transits from the surgery location to the imaging location. Sites handle this interruption in a variety of ways. Some sites have 2 anesthesia machines and switch the breathing circuit from one to the other as the patient moves between rooms. Some sites “bag” the patient while the anesthesia machine is unplugged from one room and plugged into the other.	+Continuous anesthesia is provided.
Controlled Transit	+Patient transfer from the surgery location to the imaging location is electronically controlled to limit acceleration to safe levels and preserve organ or device positions. The breathing circuit, IV lines, monitoring lines and anything connected to the patient is also managed during the patient’s transit into the magnet.	N/A	−The motion of the patient from the surgical location to the imaging location is manually controlled. The anesthesia machine is also manually moved from the surgical location to the imaging location and its motion is independent of the patient motion. The GE version requires docking the table to the magnet after moving the patient into the MR room.	N/A
Cost	+This system has costs very similar to standard diagnostic MR imaging systems, with an extra cost for the MR compatible surgical tabletop, patient transfer system and anesthesia management system.	+This system is less expensive than other magnet systems.	+These systems have costs very similar to standard diagnostic MR imaging systems, with an extra cost for the MR compatible surgical elements, such as the table.	−System is more expensive than a standard diagnostic imager. For renovations, OR demolition costs are likely higher than other systems and OR revenue would be lost during extended downtime.
Image Quality	+This system has image quality proportional to the field strength of the magnet employed. Modern systems employ 70cm bore 1.5T or 3T magnets, which provide excellent image quality. Use of standard diagnostic magnets means that all imaging options are available and upgrade paths can be utilized.	−This system uses low field magnets (0.15-0.3T) so their image quality is not the same as higher field systems. Also, the system has a limited selection of pulse sequences, so there are not as many imaging options.	+These systems have image quality proportional to the field strength of the magnet employed. Modern systems employ 70cm bore 1.5T or 3T magnets, which provide excellent image quality. Use of standard diagnostic magnets means that all imaging options are available and upgrade paths can be utilized.	+Image quality is equivalent to diagnostic imaging.
Siting	+This system has siting requirements essentially equivalent to diagnostic magnets. The MR room must meet infection control requirements. Some modifications to the OR and the MR room are required to support the patient handling system.	+This system is easy to site because of its low weight and tightly contained fringe field.	+These systems have siting issues equivalent to diagnostic magnets. The MR room must meet infection control requirements.	−The superstructure required to support the magnet during its transit from one room to the next can be significant for some renovations, as can the vertical floor separation required. The OR must be RF shielded, in addition to the imaging room.
Anatomical Coverage	+This system can image any part of the body for both diagnostic and intra-operative applications.	−This system has a small field of view and is optimized for imaging the head during neurosurgery. Other surgical options can be contemplated if the anatomy can be positioned between the magnet pole faces.	+These systems can image any part of the body for both diagnostic and intra-operative applications.	+ / −Anatomic coverage is equivalent to diagnostic scanners for diagnostic imaging but surgical imaging is restricted to the head and neck.
Functional Independence	+The rooms are fully independent, so diagnostic imaging can be performed while surgery is underway and vice versa.	−This system is permanently resident in the OR so it cannot be used for diagnostic imaging without pre-empting surgical procedures in that room. The OR can be used for cases that do not involve the magnet.	+The rooms are fully independent, so diagnostic imaging can be performed while surgery is underway and vice versa.	+The rooms are fully independent, so diagnostic imaging can be performed while surgery is underway and vice versa.
	Hover over + and - for more information.

MedTrak Is All About Transitions

Transitions have a major impact on acceptance of an iMRI system and, ultimately, the utility of the system. Surgery and imaging are similar for all high field iMRI systems, so the transitions are the major functional differentiator. Fast, easy transitions encourage system utilization and the MedTrak system was specifically designed with this in mind.

Patent Pending. Work in progress. Not FDA cleared. Not for sale.

The MedTrak Advantage

	The benefits of a fixed patient, without the expense of a moving magnet
	The only iMRI system that provides continuous anesthesia and electronically controlled patient transfer
	Fast, inexpensive construction
	High field image quality
	Independently functional rooms
	The only iMRI system independent of the magnet vendor
	A company focused solely on iMRI

	Why didn’t they do it this way in the first place?
−Manabu Kinoshita, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine

Patient stability and continuous anesthesia, without the cost of a moving magnet.
−Robert W. Prost, PhD Associate Professor of Radiology & Biophysics and Chief of MR Technical Advances Medical College of Wisconsin

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