Canadian Breast Imaging System Ushers in New Era of Breast Cancer Management

CALGARY, Sept. 8 /CNW/ - Ontario biomedical engineer Cameron Piron is to receive a $25,000 prize from the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation for his development of a dedicated system for breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intervention.

MRI is a safe and sensitive imaging tool, but it can be challenging to obtain high quality images of breast tissue. Piron's system
incorporates several innovations that make breast MRI and biopsy highly sensitive, patient-friendly, efficient and cost effective. The Sentinelle Vanguard(R) Breast MRI Table with Variable Coil Geometry(TM) combines ingenuity in computing, engineering and medicine to allow radiologists to detect breast cancer even in its early stages.

Breast cancer affects more women worldwide than any other cancer; in Canada, an estimated 5400 women will die from it this year. With early detection, survival rates can improve from 21 to 96 percent. The Sentinelle Vanguard table allows the patient to be more comfortable while giving the radiologist easier access to the breast tissue in order to obtain MRI guided needle biopsies. The specially designed radiofrequency coils are adjustable to accommodate different body types and can be positioned close to the tissue to improve image resolution.

source: CNW Group