This technology is a compact, portable, head-only MRI machine that allows unrestricted movement from the shoulders down during brain scanning for improved accessibility in clinical settings.
MRI imaging of the brain is a powerful tool for research and clinical decision-making. However, current MRI systems rely on large, immobile, and expensive scanners that require the patient to lie completely still. The use of MRI is therefore limited to wealthier institutions and inaccessible to some patients with movement disorders. Furthermore, higher spatial resolution MRI requires longer scan time which is not feasible in many clinical and research applications. A less restrictive, faster scanner could reduce scan times and expand the accessibility of brain MRI scanning for numerous applications.
Leveraging a multi-coil magnet hardware, this technology is an MRI system that requires only the head to be immobilized inside the scanner, freeing up the limbs and trunk for movement. Compared with traditional machines, this technology has smaller size, weight, and power requirements to allow easy transportation and accessibility. Furthermore, this technology improves magnetic field generation to shorten scan time. As such, this technology may facilitate imaging of the brain in a broader range of clinical and research settings.
A prototype for this technology has been created.
IR CU19284, CU18209
Licensing Contact: Joan Martinez
