New MRI machine will unlock better images for medicine

It takes clearer images of the lungs and works in people with implants.

A new MRI machine promises to overcome the limitations of traditional scanners, allowing doctors to produce clear images of more body parts in more people.

Why it matters: MRI is a non-invasive way to image soft issues. Unlike some imaging techniques, such as X-rays, which expose patients to radiation, MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves, so it’s often preferred when patients need to undergo repeated imaging.

“The doses of radiation [from X-rays] accumulate over time and can be harmful, especially to children who are still growing,” said Orlando Simonetti, research director of cardiovascular magnetic resonance at the Ohio State University (OSU).

“There’s no doubt in my mind that low-field MRI will play an important role in the future.”

Orlando Simonetti

The challenge: During an MRI, patients typically lie flat inside a tube-shaped scanner. The opening in the tube can be too small to accommodate larger patients, and the confined space can sometimes trigger anxiety and claustrophobia.

Implanted devices, such as pacemakers, can also interfere with an MRI’s magnetic field and distort images, and the air inside the lungs can make getting a clear image of the organs with an MRI difficult.

What’s new? OSU researchers have teamed up with manufacturing company Siemens to develop a new MRI machine — the 0.55T MAGNETOM Free.Max — that overcomes many of its predecessors’ shortcomings.

Instead of the standard opening of 23-27 inches, the new MRI machine has an opening that’s nearly 32 inches wide — the largest to date.

new mri machine
The new MRI machine is able to accommodate more patients. Credit: Siemens

Siemens’ machine also utilizes a much weaker magnetic field than normal: 0.55 Tesla, compared to 1.5 or 3.0 Tesla. According to Simonetti, that should make it easier to obtain clear images of the lungs and in bodies with implants, while also saving money.

“Going to lower field can reduce the cost of MRI systems and installation considerably, and with modern techniques for scanning and image processing, we can overcome the inherent loss of signal,” he said. 

The next evolution: The new MRI machine has already been cleared by the FDA, and several hospital systems — including ones operated by OSU and the University of Michigan — have now installed the devices. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind that low-field MRI will play an important role in the future and will become more mainstream,” said Simonetti.

We’d love to hear from you! If you have a comment about this article or if you have a tip for a future Freethink story, please email us at [email protected].

Related
Spending time in space can harm the human body − but scientists are working to mitigate these risks before we go to Mars
With NASA planning more missions to space in the future, scientists are studying how to mitigate health hazards that come with space flight.
Can you speed up your metabolism? And should you?
Our metabolism is the force inside our bodies that mysteriously decides whether to convert food into energy or weight.
UT med students can now get a dual degree in AI
The University of Texas at San Antonio has launched what it says is the US’s first dual degree in medicine and AI.
Device offers long-distance, low-power underwater communication
Researchers create a device with piezoelectric transducers that enables battery-free underwater communication.
Tooth decay: Mouthwash turns your teeth blue when it’s time to go to the dentist
A mouthwash solution containing ferumoxytol and a dye could treat, prevent, and diagnose tooth decay, according to UPenn researchers.
Up Next
Subscribe to Freethink for more great stories