Dominik Panwinkler, business line manager CEECA at Siemens Healthineers: The future of MRI imaging hinges on scanners that can be used anywhere, by anyone

During a major event that brought together national and international medical professionals, Siemens Healthineers announced the premiere installation of MAGNETOM Flow in Romania, an innovative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology designed to improve diagnostic capabilities and increase efficiency in patient care. Dominik Panwinkler, MR Business Manager CEECA at Siemens Healthineers, highlighted some of the advantages of the new scanner.

Following the international launch in Vienna at the beginning of February, the cutting-edge MAGNETOM Flow scanner will be installed at the Dorna Medical Clinic in Borșa, Maramures, in June 2024.

Prominent figures from national and international medical, scientific, and educational fields were present at the launch event, which also marked 40 years of MAGNETOM technology excellence.

During the second panel, Panwinkler noted that MRI technology is relatively young, the first scan being done only 40 years ago. The first machines took two hours for a single scan, and access to it was severely limited. After that, the pace of innovation in the sector quickened, and machines got smaller and better. While patients had to adapt to MRI machines in the past, nowadays, the reverse is true, thanks to state-of-the-line sensors and AI such as those used by the MAGNETOM Flow.

Panwinkler also argued that the future of MRI imaging hinges on plug-and-play scanners, which can be used anywhere, by anyone. He sat down with Romania Insider to answer more questions about the recently unveiled scanner.

How is the MAGNETOM Flow different from other systems?

There are a lot of similarities between some of our recent scanners, like the MAGNETOM Free.Star, and the MAGNETOM Flow, but the difference consists of the strength of the field. We introduced the MAGNETOM Free.Star with the 0.55 Tesla field, now this machine has 1.5 Tesla. But there are a lot of similarities because we learned a lot from the MAGNETOM Free.Star, and we improved it.

How long does the training of an operator for the MAGNETOM Flow take?

It depends. A brand-new user of the MAGNETOM Flow scanner can learn to operate it through a hybrid learning approach. The first part is done virtually, and once the system is installed, Siemens Healthineers specialists join the staff for 2-3 days to conduct on-site training. Operators already familiar with Siemens MRI scanners will need no training. What is now fully new is that everyone can operate the MRI. Even somebody who has no clue. We have different training modes, and the MRI itself is providing the strategy.

Previous models also incorporated intelligent imaging technology like the myExam Companion technology. Does the MAGNETOM Flow also have these features?