Truly portable MRI for extremity and brain imaging anywhere & everywhere

Introduction

Mobile medical imaging devices are invaluable for clinical diagnostic purposes both inside and outside healthcare institutions. Unfortunately, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the gold standard for numerous neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, is not readily portable. Recently, low-field MRI companies have demonstrated the first decisive steps towards portability within medical facilities and vehicles. However, the scanners' weight and dimensions are still incompatible with more demanding use cases such as in remote and developing regions, sports facilities and events, medical and military camps, or home healthcare.

Recent Developments

Within the Histo-MRI and PR Scanner projects, we have recently demonstrated in vivo images taken with a light, small footprint, low-field extremity MRI scanner outside the controlled settings provided by medical facilities. This includes the first-ever MRI images obtained at a patient's home, and even in open air connected to a gasoline generator. This has opened a path towards highly accessible MRI under circumstances previously unrealistic.

Project Goals

In this project, we will take the necessary technical, industrial, and entrepreneurial steps to tackle the massive deployment of low-field portable systems for point-of-care and bedside imaging in various settings, including:

1. Clinics large and small
2. Home and hospice care
3. Rural areas
4. Sports facilities and events
5. Field hospitals
6. NGO and military camps

Our aim is to make MRI available to a large fraction of the world population with no or insufficient access.

Objectives

To advance towards this highly ambitious goal, the objectives of the NextMRI project include:

i) Expanding the current technology to both extremity and brain imaging
ii) Improving the diagnostic capabilities with machine learning
iii) Improving the portability and usability to meet end-user needs
iv) Optimizing production costs
v) Gathering medical evidence of the technology performance with clinical trials
vi) Developing a sustainable business case and model towards commercialization