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E-Z-EM, Inc. is headquartered in New York and develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic imaging products used by radiologists like the MRI bowel marker Gadolite® Oral Suspension.
In addition to medical diagnostics systems, the company's products include MR-compatible interventional devices, such as biopsy needles. E-Z-EM is also a third-party contract manufacturer of contrast media.
Bracco Diagnostics, Inc. , the US-based subsidiary of Bracco Imaging S.p.A. and part of the Bracco Group, announced in Oct. 2007 that it has entered into a merger agreement to acquire E-Z-EM, Inc. (NASDAQ: EZEM) for a total consideration of about $ 240 million. Upon completion of the procedure and subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities, Bracco Diagnostics Inc. will incorporate E-Z-EM.

Odin Medical Technologies, Ltd. was founded in Israel, in 1996. Odin Medical Technologies, Inc. was established in early 2000 in the United States as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Odin Medical Technologies develops and manufactures intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image guidance systems designed to improve neurosurgical interventions with a special focus on minimally invasive procedures.
As of July 25, 2006, Odin Medical Technologies, Ltd. was acquired by Medtronic, Inc.

MRI Scanners:

0.23T:

Contrast enhanced MRI is a commonly used procedure in magnetic resonance imaging. The need to more accurately characterize different types of lesions and to detect all malignant lesions is the main reason for the use of intravenous contrast agents.
Some methods are available to improve the contrast of different tissues. The focus of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) is on contrast kinetics with demands for spatial resolution dependent on the application. DCE-MR imaging is used for diagnosis of cancer (see also liver imaging, abdominal imaging, breast MRI, dynamic scanning) as well as for diagnosis of cardiac infarction (see perfusion imaging, cardiac MRI). Quantitative DCE-MRI requires special data acquisition techniques and analysis software.
Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) allows the visualization of vessels and the temporal resolution provides a separation of arteries and veins. These methods share the need for acquisition methods with high temporal and spatial resolution.
Double contrast administration (combined contrast enhanced (CCE) MRI) uses two contrast agents with complementary mechanisms e.g., superparamagnetic iron oxide to darken the background liver and gadolinium to brighten the vessels. A variety of different categories of contrast agents are currently available for clinical use.
Reasons for the use of contrast agents in MRI scans are:
Common Indications:
Brain MRI : Preoperative/pretreatment evaluation and postoperative evaluation of brain tumor therapy, CNS infections, noninfectious inflammatory disease and meningeal disease.
Spine MRI : Infection/inflammatory disease, primary tumors, drop metastases, initial evaluation of syrinx, postoperative evaluation of the lumbar spine: disk vs. scar.
Breast MRI : Detection of breast cancer in case of dense breasts, implants, malignant lymph nodes, or scarring after treatment for breast cancer, diagnosis of a suspicious breast lesion in order to avoid biopsy.

For Ultrasound Imaging (USI) see Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound at Medical-Ultrasound-Imaging.com. See also Blood Pool Agents, Myocardial Late Enhancement, Cardiovascular Imaging, Contrast Enhanced MR Venography, Contrast Resolution, Dynamic Scanning, Lung Imaging, Hepatobiliary Contrast Agents, Contrast Medium and MRI Guided Biopsy.

Ultrasound imaging is the primary fetal monitoring modality during pregnancy, nevertheless fetal MRI is increasingly used to image anatomical regions and structures difficult to see with sonography. Given its long record of safety, utility, and cost-effectiveness, ultrasound will remain the modality of first choice in fetal screening. However, MRI is beginning to fill a niche in situations where ultrasound does not provide enough information to diagnose abnormalities before the baby's birth. Magnetic resonance imaging of the fetus provides multiplanar views also in sub-optimal positions, better characterization of anatomic details of e.g. the fetal brain, and information for planning the mode of delivery and airway management at birth.

Indications:
Modern fetal MRI requires no sedatives or muscle relaxants to control fetal movement. Ultrafast MRI techniques (e.g., single shot techniques like Half Fourier Acquisition Single shot Turbo spin Echo HASTE) enable images to be acquired in less than one second to eliminate fetal motion. Such technology has led to increased usage of fetal MRI, which can lead to earlier diagnosis of conditions affecting the baby and has proven useful in planning fetal surgery and designing postnatal treatments. As MR technology continues to improve, more advances in the prenatal diagnosis and treatment of fetal abnormalities are to expect. More advances in in-utero interventions are likely as well. Eventually, fetal MRI may replace even some prenatal tests that require invasive procedures such as amniocentesis.

For Ultrasound Imaging (USI) see Fetal Ultrasound at Medical-Ultrasound-Imaging.com.

(CAD) 'Computer aided detection' or 'computer assisted diagnosis' systems are tools to improve the efficiency and workflow in medical imaging procedures. The aim of CAD is to increase the diagnostic accuracy of screening procedures by using a computer system to locate abnormalities, improve image management, correct patient movement and assist the radiologists in the interpretation and analysis of data-intensive studies. Typical applications include the tumor detection in mammography, breast MRI, colonography, and lung imaging. Newer applications like prostate MRI are under investigation.

See also MR Guided Interventions, Breast MRI and Hybrid Imaging.