From Siemens Medical Systems;
with the introduction of this system, it is possible to perform contrast MR angiography for abdominal, thoracic and neck vessels from the origins to the circle of Willis. The system also has many newer features including functional imaging, spectroscopy, advanced body, ortho- and neuroimaging.

In the last years, cardiac MRI techniques have progressively improved. No other noninvasive imaging modality provides the same degree of contrast and temporal resolution for the assessment of cardiovascular anatomy and pathology. Contraindications MRI are the same as for other magnetic resonance techniques.
The primary advantage of MRI is extremely high contrast resolution between different tissue types, including blood. Moreover, MRI is a true 3 dimensional imaging modality and images can be obtained in any oblique plane along the true cardiac axes while preserving high temporal and spatial resolution with precise demonstration of cardiac anatomy without the administration of contrast media.
Due to these properties, MRI can precisely characterize cardiac function and quantify cavity volumes, ejection fraction, and left ventricular mass. In addition, cardiac MRI has the ability to quantify flow (see flow quantification), including bulk flow in vessels, pressure gradients across stenosis, regurgitant fractions and shunt fractions. Valve morphology and area can be determined and the severity of stenosis quantified. In certain disease states, such as myocardial infarction, the contrast resolution of MRI is further improved by the addition of extrinsic contrast agents (see myocardial late enhancement).
A dedicated cardiac coil, and a field strength higher than 1 Tesla is recommended to have sufficient signal. Cardiac MRI acquires ECG gating. Cardiac gating (ECGs) obtained within the MRI scanner, can be degraded by the superimposed electrical potential of flowing blood in the magnetic field. Therefore, excellent contact between the skin and ECG leads is necessary. For male patients, the skin at the lead sites can be shaved. A good cooperation of the patient is necessary because breath holding at the end of expiration is practiced during the most sequences.

See also Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes.
For Ultrasound Imaging (USI) see Cardiac Ultrasound at Medical-Ultrasound-Imaging.com.

See also the related poll results: 'In 2010 your scanner will probably work with a field strength of' and 'MRI will have replaced 50% of x-ray exams by'

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a noninvasive procedure to evaluate different types of tissue, including the spinal cord, vertebral disks and spaces between the vertebrae through which the nerves travel, as well as distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue.
The cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine MRI should be scanned in individual sections. The scan protocol parameter like e.g. the field of view (FOV), slice thickness and matrix are usually different for cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine MRI, but the method is similar. The standard views in the basic spinal MRI scan to create detailed slices (cross sections) are sagittal T1 weighted and T2 weighted images over the whole body part, and transverse (e.g. multi angle oblique) over the region of interest with different pulse sequences according to the result of the sagittal slices. Additional views or different types of pulse sequences like fat suppression, fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) or diffusion weighted imaging are created dependent on the indication.

Indications:

Contrast enhanced MRI techniques delineate infections vs. malignancies, show a syrinx cavity and support to differentiate the postoperative conditions. After surgery for disk disease, significant fibrosis can occur in the spine. This scarring can mimic residual disk herniation. Magnetic resonance myelography evaluates spinal stenosis and various intervertebral discs can be imaged with multi angle oblique techniques. Cine series can be used to show true range of motion studies of parts of the spine. Advanced open MRI devices are developed to perform positional scans in the position of pain or symptom (e.g. Upright™ MRI formerly Stand-Up MRI).

MRI of the lumbar spine, with its multiplanar 3 dimensional imaging capability, is currently the preferred modality for establishing a diagnosis. MRI scans and magnetic resonance myelography have many advantages compared with computed tomography and/or X-ray myelography in evaluating the lumbar spine. MR imaging scans large areas of the spine without ionizing radiation, is noninvasive, not affected by bone artifacts, provides vascular imaging capability, and makes use of safer contrast agents (gadolinium chelate).
Due to the high level of tissue contrast resolution, nerves and discs are clearly visible. MRI is excellent for detecting degenerative disease in the spine. Lumbar spine MRI accurately shows disc disease (prolapsed disc or slipped disc), the level at which disc disease occurs, and if a disc is compressing spinal nerves. Lumbar spine MRI depicts soft tissues, including the cauda equina, spinal cord, ligaments, epidural fat, subarachnoid space, and intervertebral discs. Loss of epidural fat on T1 weighted images, loss of cerebrospinal fluid signal around the dural sac on T2 weighted images and degenerative disc disease are common features of lumbar stenosis.

Common indications for MRI of the lumbar spine:
Lumbar spine imaging requires a special spine coil. often used whole spine array coils have the advantage that patients do not need other positioning if also upper parts of the spine should be scanned. Sagittal T1 and T2 weighted FSE sequences are the standard views. With multi angle oblique techniques individually oriented transverse images of each intervertebral disc at different angles can be obtained.

See also the related poll result: 'MRI will have replaced 50% of x-ray exams by'

MRI of the shoulder with its excellent soft tissue discrimination, and high spatial resolution offers the best noninvasive way to study the shoulder. MRI images of the bone, muscles and tendons of the glenohumeral joint can be obtained in any oblique planes and projections. MRI gives excellent depiction of rotator cuff tears, injuries to the biceps tendon and damage to the glenoid labrum. Shoulder MRI is better than ultrasound imaging at depicting structural changes such as osteophytic spurs, ligament thickening, and acromial shape that may have predisposed to tendon degeneration.
A dedicated shoulder coil and careful patient positioning in external rotation with the shoulder as close as reasonably possible to the center of the magnet is necessary for a good image quality. If possible, the opposite shoulder should be lifted up, so that the patient lies on the imaged shoulder in order to rotate and fix this shoulder to reduce motion during breathing.
Axial, coronal oblique, and sagittal oblique proton density with fat suppression, T2 and T1 provide an assessment of the rotator cuff, biceps, deltoid, acromio-clavicular joint, the glenohumeral joint and surrounding large structures. If a labral injury is suspected, a Fat Sat gradient echo sequence is recommended. In some cases, a direct MR shoulder arthrogram with intra-articular injection of dilute gadolinium or an indirect arthrogram with imaging 20 min. after intravenous injection may be helpful.

See also Imaging of the Extremities.