Silent Scan Technology Expected to Sway the Healthcare Market in the Near Future

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been an immensely helpful technique in the healthcare world. However, the unwanted acoustic noise during an MRI scan is the prime reason why patients undergoing the exam experience discomfort and panic. While infants, pediatrics, and elderly patients are annoyed due to high noise level of the MRI scan, sedated patients tend to experience much more discomfort during the exam. Involuntary hand or leg movements, temporary shifts in hearing ability, and verbal communication problems are often observed in case of a number of patients.

Silent Scan Technology: The Game Changer

To overcome the above mentioned problems, GE initiated a revolutionary research for reducing the acoustic noise of an MRI scan – the silent scan technology. Though primarily aimed at increasing the patient comfort during the MRI scan, this technology does not compromise on the image quality. Apart from delivering better patient experience, MRI scanners with the silent scan technology reportedly require lesser rescans. While the conventional MRI scans trigger anxiety and fear among patients, the new silent scan technology has definitely struck the market as a game changer.

How the silent scan is achieved

There are two state-of-the-art developments that contribute to the silent scan.

• Silenz, a new 3D technique used for scanning and reconstruction, is used to initiate the elimination of the high level acoustic noise.
• The Silenz protocol, coupled with the new high-fidelity MRI gradient and RF system electronics, together eliminate the noise at its source, to a large extent.

Challenges to the adoption of silent scan technology

The four factors influencing the ability of healthcare facilities to embrace silent scan technology include high cost, inadequate technology, lack of awareness, and absence of proper distribution facility. The adoption of this technology has been facing challenges since its inception. A recent survey found out that approximately 44% of the total responding healthcare facilities are already using silent or soft scan technology for MRI scanning, and seemed hostile to using the new silent scan technology in the future. Despite the fact that it is an extremely effective model for lowering the noise of MRI scans, the scanner’s high cost considerably restricts its widespread adoption. Considering the overall appreciation of this promising technology, its adoption on a global level cannot be overstated with the advent of technology in the near future.

Current Market Status with Respect to Silent Scan Technology

A recent survey concluded that the adoption of silent scan technology scanners majorly depends on the type of healthcare settings. Hospitals compared to all other healthcare facilities seem to increasingly use this technology, driving significant revenue to the market. Moreover, private hospitals have started to realise the need for this technology for better, more effective, and more efficient MRI scans. The forecast report mentions the expected rise in installation of silent scan technology scanners, from 1,015 in 2015 to 1,815 by the end of 2016. To start with, the new technology MRI scanners contributed 1% to the total MRI scanner installations that happened in 2015. With steady increase in its adoption by major hospitals, silent scan technology is anticipated to experience staggering growth in the healthcare market.