The company is a leading manufacturer and developer of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. The Patient Friendly MRI Company, formed in 1978, is engaged in the business of inventing, manufacturing, selling and servicing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. FONAR is the oldest MRI company in the world. After receiving hundreds of millions in a windfall from protecting their MRI patents, they made a MRI scanner that no other MRI manufacturer has. One that the patient stands in and they call Indomitable, the Stand-Up MRI. Patients like it because it is the least claustrophobic, most comfortable MRI on the market. Doctors like it because of its superior image quality and for the first time, the patient can be scanned in the weight-bearing position, or the position of pain or symptom. In October of 2004, the company changed the product name of the Stand-Up MRI to the Upright MRI. Fonar introduced the first "open" MRI scanner in 1980 and is the originator of the iron-core nonsuperconductive and permanent magnet technology.

MRI Scanners:

- 0.6T:

From ISOL Technology
'Ultra high field MR system, it's right close to you. FORTE 3.0T is the new standard for the future ultra high field MR system. If you are pushing the limits of your existing clinical MR scanner, the FORTE will surely take you to the next level of diagnostic imaging. FORTE is the core leader of the medical technology in the 21st century. Proving effects of fMRI that cannot be measured with MRI less than 2.0T.'

From Esaote S.p.A.; Esaote introduced the new G-SCAN at the RSNA in Dec. 2004. The G-SCAN covers almost all musculoskeletal applications including the spine. The tilting gantry is designed for scanning in weight-bearing positions. This unique MRI scanner is developed in line with the Esaote philosophy of creating high quality MRI systems that are easy to install and that have a low breakeven point.

(GRAPPA) GRAPPA is a parallel imaging technique to speed up MRI pulse sequences. The Fourier plane of the image is reconstructed from the frequency signals of each coil (reconstruction in the frequency domain).
Parallel imaging techniques like GRAPPA, auto-SMASH and VD-AUTO-SMASH are second and third generation algorithms using k-space undersampling. A model from a part of the center of k-space is acquired, to find the coefficients of the signals from each coil element, and to reconstruct the missing intermediary lines. The acquisition of these additional lines is a form of self-calibration, which lengthens the overall short scan time. The acquisition of these k-space lines provides mapping of the whole field as well as data for the image contrast.
Algorithms of the GRAPPA type work better than the SENSE type in heterogeneous body parts like thoracic or abdominal imaging, or in pulse sequences like echo planar imaging. This is caused by differences between the sensitivity map and the pulse sequence (e.g. artifacts) or an unreliable sensitivity map.

From Philips Medical Systems; Philips Infinion 1.5 T is designed to maximize the efficiency and quality of patient care. Developed with the patient in mind, the Infinion is the shortest and most open 1.5T scanner available. The unique 'ultra short' 1.4 m magnet assures patient comfort and acceptance without compromising image quality and clinical performance.