Hallmarq hails new equine imaging tool

One of the world’s leading veterinary imaging pioneers will present the latest advancements to its cutting-edge motion correction software next month.

Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging, which provides advanced MRI and CT services specifically designed for veterinary practice, will highlight its new iNAV software at the BEVA Congress, taking place at the ICC in Birmingham from September 10 to 13.

Developed as part of Hallmarq’s ongoing commitment to innovation, iNAV is transforming the way equine vets can diagnose and treat complex lameness cases.

The cutting-edge technology enables clearer and more clinically diagnostic MRI scans, especially in the previously harder to image proximal limb.

Hallmarq’s Standing Equine MRI offers the gold standard in lameness diagnosis. Photo credit: Dr. Natasha Werpy, DVM, DACVR

By building on already established Hallmarq motion correction software techniques, iNAV tracks real time movement in the limb even more closely and corrects for motion artefact when processing the images.

Minimising motion artefacts enhances image quality, enabling vets to pinpoint conditions with greater accuracy and greater diagnostic confidence, resulting in quicker results and treatment plans.

Annie Makin, chief commercial officer at Hallmarq, said: “Our commitment to innovation ensures that standing MRI continues to evolve, with iNAV setting a new standard in what’s possible in veterinary diagnostics.

“Where previously scans may have been non-diagnostic due to patient movement, iNAV delivers transformational results to drive better patient care.

“For us, the addition of iNAV should reassure referring vets that sending more proximal limb cases to their nearest Hallmarq MRI system will pay dividends.

“The higher limb is notoriously difficult to image and motion can prove a problem. iNAV significantly reduces the impact of limb movement during image acquisition, helping to maintain diagnostic integrity.”

One case in which iNAV helped ensure an accurate diagnosis was in a patient seen by Donnington Grove Equine Vets in Berkshire.

The horse had sustained an avulsion fracture of the right forelimb proximal suspensory origin six months prior to referral to the team.

Despite a structured rehabilitation programme, lameness persisted and the condition failed to fully resolve.

Follow-up radiographic and ultrasonographic assessments were challenging due to the extent of the injury and failed to provide a definitive explanation for the ongoing lameness.

Given these limitations, a Hallmarq standing equine MRI was performed using iNAV to obtain a more detailed evaluation of the affected region and, therefore, more comprehensive evaluation of the injury and its stage of healing.

The motion correction technology enables clearer and more clinically diagnostic MRI scans as demonstrated by these before (left) and after (right) images of the same horse

The identification of fluid signal within the suspensory ligament, indicative of ongoing inflammation, was crucial in guiding the subsequent rehabilitation plan - information that could not have been extrapolated from ultrasonography alone.

Thanks to the implementation of iNAV, the images were of high diagnostic quality despite increased patient movement. Previously, such motion would likely have resulted in non-diagnostic scans and an inconclusive diagnosis.

As a result, a rehabilitation plan was created and the patient’s follow-up MRI three months later showed huge progress, allowing the horse to be gradually reintroduced to exercise.

Holly Johnson, equine clinical product manager for Hallmarq, said: “For our existing standing MRI users, iNAV is already available on their system.

“Whether managing subtle lameness, complex soft tissue injuries or ambiguous cases where traditional scans fall short, iNAV’s enhanced motion correction helps unlock answers that might otherwise remain elusive.

“We hope this will reassure equine vets across the country their nearest referral centres have the specialist knowledge and equipment to help deliver better outcomes for them and their patients.”

Industry experts have been quick to praise the transformational qualities of iNAV.

Dr Natasha Werpy, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology, said: “The introduction of iNAV has dramatically advanced magnetic resonance imaging of the standing horse and strengthened our confidence in diagnosing clinically significant injuries in the proximal limb.”

Ben Anghileri, clinical director at Oakham Veterinary Hospital, said: “The updated iNAV is amazing. I was genuinely astonished by the quality of the T2W scans on a fidgety patient. 

“Based on the amount of motion, I was expecting the scan to look like mush, but it was beautiful and looked better than the T1s.”

Looking ahead, Hallmarq says its focus is firmly on AI-enhanced imaging. Its state-of-the-art AI algorithms promise iNAV quality images with significantly reduced scan times.