Ampronix

Miniature Magnetic Resonance Imaging

GE Healthcare has developed an MRI machine small enough to fit into NICU units Orange County, CA - February 1st, 2017 - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a multiplanar imaging technique that allows visualization of internal structures using magnetic radiation. The images are able to provide a three-dimensional view of the body formations including organs, tissue, muscles, joints and othes. The scan is non-invasive, but can be detailed enough to alert physicians to anomalies within the body. MRI scanners usually weigh around 10 tons and fill a large room, needing ample space for the additional computers that must be accessed outside of the magnetic field reach. Their sensitivity to vibration also requires them to be installed on ground levels. These combining factors mean a patient must go to a facility with an MRI scanner, but for delicate babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) this isn’t always possible. To help combat the commute, GE Healthcare developed a new MRI small enough to fit inside an NICU unit. Currently at the Jessop Wing Maternity Hospital in Sheffield, England, the tiny MRI is not yet approved for clinical use, but is soon to be implemented in research and clinical studies. It has already been tested on 40 babies and researchers hope to be able to prove that the MRI images produced are clearer than ultrasounds, increasing early diagnosis. Researchers also want to determine how it impacts the clinical management of children. Professor Paul Griffiths from the University of Sheffield, who specializes in diseases of the developing brain, has said, "From a diagnostic point, the big advantage is that MRI is able to show a wider range of brain abnormalities, in particular those which result from a lack of oxygen or blood supply." Currently, ultrasound imaging is used to scan the brains of newborns, but MRI scans are capable of more accurate images in abnormality detection. Due to a newborn’s skull not being fused, an ultrasound can be used to view a newborns brain; however the fontanelles, the soft spots between bones, can be masked. The sound waves produced from an MRI are able to travel through these structures, providing further insight on the brain. Parents who have had their children undergo an MRI scan from the new device say the clarity of the image gives them peace of mind. It allows situational clarity for the family and gives physicians a better look, which brings them comfort. The clinical trials are estimated to last up to two years, and depending on results will lead to regulatory approvals.