Patients undergoing MRI exams at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) will soon benefit from faster scan times, sharper images and a more comfortable experience thanks to a $103,000 gift from Kingston philanthropist Stephen Sorensen.
The donation will fund the installation of the Deep Resolve artificial intelligence (AI) imaging suite from Siemens Healthineers on KHSC's 3-Tesla MRI scanner. The donation brings this latest generation of AI-assisted image reconstruction technology to one of the region's most important diagnostic imaging tools.
The AI-powered software upgrade will allow more patients to be scanned each day while enhancing the overall patient experience.
"I was pleased to help support the initial acquisition of this 3-Tesla MRI system several years ago, so it's especially rewarding to help ensure it continues to perform at the highest level," said Sorensen. "One of the most effective forms of healthcare philanthropy is helping hospitals get even more value from the equipment they already own. Medical technology evolves quickly, and today's AI software can dramatically improve the performance of existing systems. This investment will extend the value of a major capital investment already made by the community."
Installation of the software and specialized training for MRI technologists at KHSC will soon begin.
"This software upgrade represents a significant advancement in our ability to deliver high-quality MRI imaging to patients," said Dr. Omar Islam, Head of Radiology at KHSC. "Artificial intelligence is transforming medical imaging by helping us acquire clearer images in less time. These enhancements will improve the patient experience, increase efficiency throughout our MRI program and support more confident diagnoses for radiologists and referring physicians."
The Deep Resolve imaging suite includes three advanced applications that will enhance patient care:
- Deep Resolve Pro accelerates MRI examinations while improving image quality across a wide range of studies.
- Deep Resolve Swift Brain enables rapid brain imaging for critically ill patients in emergency and inpatient settings.
- ZOOMit Pro delivers exceptionally detailed imaging of structures such as the prostate and spinal cord, supporting earlier diagnosis and more precise treatment planning.
"This upgrade will improve both image quality and workflow," said Tudor Chibacu, Senior MRI Technologist at KHSC. "Patients will spend less time in the scanner, examinations will become more efficient, and the enhanced images will help provide the information radiologists need to make confident diagnoses."
KHSC's 3-Tesla MRI scanner is currently operating on software introduced in approximately 2018. The Deep Resolve upgrade will modernize the system with today's leading AI capabilities, extending the life and performance of this essential diagnostic tool, while also helping meet the growing demand for advanced MRI services across southeastern Ontario.
This donation is part of Sorensen's ongoing commitment to targeted clinician-based philanthropy at KHSC - supporting priorities identified by frontline clinicians that can deliver immediate, measurable benefits for patients.
Previous gifts have supported advanced cardiac CT imaging, a portable MRI system for critically ill ICU patients, a new interventional radiology suite, advanced breast cancer surgical technology and, most recently, the Emergency Department (ED) Diagnostic Imaging initiative, which is bringing new state-of-the-art fixed and mobile X-ray systems to the ED at the Kingston General Hospital site and the Urgent Care Centre located at the Hotel Dieu Hospital site.
