Innovative MRI system makes its US debut

The Magnetom Flow.Ace, a novel 1.5 tesla (T) MRI platform, has been installed at the Animal Neurology Center in St Louis, Missouri—the first installation system in a US health care institution. The 60-cm bore system from Siemens Healthineers covers the entire range of MRI applications.¹

The system is also the first MRI scanner from the company to be marketed for both veterinary radiology and general radiology.¹ “The relationship between the Animal Neurology Center and Siemens Healthineers represents an exciting step forward in the expanding interest and capabilities of veterinary diagnostic imaging,” said Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM, veterinary neurologist/neurosurgeon and owner of the Animal Neurology Center.²

According to Siemens Healthineers, the Magnetom Flow.Ace uses 0.7 L of liquid helium for cooling—a fraction of the 1000 L or more used by conventional MRI scanners—and the device deactivates energy-intensive components when they’re not in use. Additionally, the Magnetom Flow.Ace does not require a quench pipe, which is often used to vent gaseous helium directly into the atmosphere during an emergency shutdown. This absence of a quench pipe, combined with the scanner’s small size, can result in lower installation requirements and costs than for some other 1.5 T MRI scanners.¹

The scanner’s Deep Resolve image reconstruction technology is based on artificial intelligence, which enables shorter scan times and improved image quality, according to Siemens Healthineers. Additionally, the technology’s range of contour and dedicated MRI coils is available for veterinary applications.¹

According to the Animal Neurology Center, having the Magnetom Flow.Ace helps ensure its veterinary team has access to the same “top-tier MRI technology” that has traditionally been available in human medicine.² “Veterinary medicine facilities, such as the Animal Neurology Center, face a paradoxical challenge. We are more fiscally constrained than the general radiology community, but because we treat a wide variety of animal patients that are often quite small, we require high-end imaging equipment to generate high-quality images and overcome those constraints,” Wininger said in a news release.¹

Wininger said the Magnetom Flow.Ace provides “the best of both worlds” for the Animal Neurology Center by delivering “premium imaging” that not only meets the center’s patients’ needs but is also cost-prohibitive.¹ “The Magnetom Flow.Ace has exceeded every expectation—delivering affordable, high-quality image sets with shorter acquisition times, all while supporting our professional commitment to environmental sustainability,” he added.²

The Magnetom Flow.Ace provides unique settings to fit each customer’s needs, given the many variables hospitals and laboratories face, such as size, sample mix, case mix, technology infrastructure, and automation adoption. According to Siemens Healthineers, there is no guarantee that other customers will achieve the same results as Animal Neurology Center due to the customized settings.¹

References

1. Vet hospital installs first Siemens Healthineers Magnetom Flow.Ace magnetic resonance scanner in the U.S. News release. Siemens Healthineers. February 10, 2026. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/en-us/press-room/press-releases/magnetom-flow-ace-first-install
2. ANC becomes the first veterinary practice in the U.S. to install Siemens Healthineers Magnetom Flow.Ace MRI scanner. Animal Neurology Center. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://animalneurology.com/news/magnetom-flow-ace-veterinary-mri-anc/