On June 2007 Society for Nuclear Medicine meeting in Washington a Tübingen and Tennessee group showed brain images taken with a new kind of dual brain scanner combining positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) scanners developed by Siemens. PET scanners provide images of function and biochemistry whereas MR scanners typically are set up to show the anatomy of the brain. A combined system will allow for easier answering questions like what is happening where in the brain. The dual scanner is in line with a tendency towards big machine hybrid technology in hospitals, e.g., the PET and CT combination already widely sprawls in cancer diagnostics. The PET/MR machine should probably be considered as the presently most powerful apparatus for examining the human mind.

Press release from conference: Simultaneous MR/PET for Brain Imaging: First Patient Scans.