Innovative Low-Field MRI Improves Image Quality
|
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 14 Oct 2019 |
|
Image: Lung cysts are clearer using high-performance low field MRI (R) compared to standard MRI (L) (Photo courtesy of Adrienne Campbell-Washburn/ NIH).
A high-performance, low magnetic-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system vastly improves image quality, making medical imaging more affordable and accessible for patients.
Researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH; Bethesda, MD, USA) and Siemens Healthcare (Siemens; Erlangen, Germany) first modified a commercial MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T MRI system to operate at 0.55T, but maintaining high-performance hardware, shielded gradients (45 mT/m; 200 T/m/sec), and advanced imaging methods. Studies were then conducted to evaluate potential applications in MRI-guided cardiovascular catheterizations with metallic devices, diagnostic imaging in high-susceptibility regions, and efficient image acquisition strategies.
The researchers found that when comparing 0.55T images obtained to those obtained at 1.5T, lung cysts and surrounding tissues in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) were seen more clearly. They also found that inhaled oxygen could increase the brightness of lung tissue more effectively when using the lower magnetic field strength, compared to the higher field strength, providing a unique view of the distribution of oxygen in the body. Similar advantages of low-field MRI were seen during catheterization procedures. The study was published on October 1, 2019, in Radiology.
“MRI of the lung is notoriously difficult and has been off-limits for years because air causes distortion in MRI images,” said lead author Adrienne Campbell-Washburn, PhD, of the NIH. “A low-field MRI system equipped with contemporary imaging technology allows us to see the lungs very clearly. Plus, we can use inhaled oxygen as a contrast agent. Imaging the upper airway with this system may also offer valuable clinical information for both sleep and speech disorders.”
MRI scanners can have ultra-weak, weak, medium, strong, and super-strong magnetic fields. The highest-quality pictures are usually taken by using superconducting magnetic systems generating very strong magnetic fields, which traditionally provide the highest image resolution.
Related Links:
U.S. National Institutes of Health
Researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH; Bethesda, MD, USA) and Siemens Healthcare (Siemens; Erlangen, Germany) first modified a commercial MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T MRI system to operate at 0.55T, but maintaining high-performance hardware, shielded gradients (45 mT/m; 200 T/m/sec), and advanced imaging methods. Studies were then conducted to evaluate potential applications in MRI-guided cardiovascular catheterizations with metallic devices, diagnostic imaging in high-susceptibility regions, and efficient image acquisition strategies.
The researchers found that when comparing 0.55T images obtained to those obtained at 1.5T, lung cysts and surrounding tissues in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) were seen more clearly. They also found that inhaled oxygen could increase the brightness of lung tissue more effectively when using the lower magnetic field strength, compared to the higher field strength, providing a unique view of the distribution of oxygen in the body. Similar advantages of low-field MRI were seen during catheterization procedures. The study was published on October 1, 2019, in Radiology.
“MRI of the lung is notoriously difficult and has been off-limits for years because air causes distortion in MRI images,” said lead author Adrienne Campbell-Washburn, PhD, of the NIH. “A low-field MRI system equipped with contemporary imaging technology allows us to see the lungs very clearly. Plus, we can use inhaled oxygen as a contrast agent. Imaging the upper airway with this system may also offer valuable clinical information for both sleep and speech disorders.”
MRI scanners can have ultra-weak, weak, medium, strong, and super-strong magnetic fields. The highest-quality pictures are usually taken by using superconducting magnetic systems generating very strong magnetic fields, which traditionally provide the highest image resolution.
Related Links:
U.S. National Institutes of Health
Silver Member
X-Ray QA Device
Accu-Gold+ Touch Pro
X-ray Diagnostic System
FDX Visionary-A
X-Ray Illuminator
X-Ray Viewbox Illuminators
Pocket Fetal Doppler
CONTEC10C/CL
Latest MRI News
- MRI-Derived Biomarker Improves Risk Stratification in Glioblastoma
- Combined Imaging Approach Identifies Cause of Heart Attack without Coronary Blockage
- Advanced MRI System Detects Impaired Cardiac Oxygen Use in Minutes
- AI-Enhanced MRI Improves Image Quality in Arrhythmia Patients
- Ultra-Detailed Brain Atlas Enhances Early Detection of Neurological Disorders
- Study Finds Advanced Imaging Significantly Reduces Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies
- New Material Boosts MRI Image Quality
- AI Model Reads and Diagnoses Brain MRI in Seconds
- MRI Scan Breakthrough to Help Avoid Risky Invasive Tests for Heart Patients
- MRI Scans Reveal Signature Patterns of Brain Activity to Predict Recovery from TBI
- Novel Imaging Approach to Improve Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries
- AI-Assisted Model Enhances MRI Heart Scans
- AI Model Outperforms Doctors at Identifying Patients Most At-Risk of Cardiac Arrest
- New MRI Technique Reveals Hidden Heart Issues
- Shorter MRI Exam Effectively Detects Cancer in Dense Breasts
- MRI to Replace Painful Spinal Tap for Faster MS Diagnosis
Channels
Radiography
view channel
AI Boosts Breast Cancer Detection and Cuts Screening Workload
Breast cancer screening programs face rising demand and persistent workforce shortages, straining double-reading workflows and delaying care. Early detection is critical to reduce mortality and minimize... Read more
AI Tool Predicts Breast Cancer Risk Years Ahead Using Routine Mammograms
Breast cancer screening saves lives but still relies largely on uniform schedules despite wide differences in individual risk. This one-size-fits-all approach can miss cancers in higher-risk women while... Read more
Ultrasound
view channel
New Ultrasound AI Tool Supports Rapid Prenatal Assessment
Accurate gestational age estimation guides prenatal screening, detection of complications, and timely intervention. Access to ultrasound and trained sonographers is uneven, with nearly half of U.... Read more
New Consensus Standardizes Ultrasound-Based Fatty Liver Assessment
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is rising along with obesity and diabetes, making accurate, scalable measurement of hepatic fat a clinical priority. Biopsy is invasive... Read more
Nuclear Medicine
view channel
PET Tracer Enables Noninvasive Measurement of Beta Cell Mass
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Loss of these cells destabilizes glucose control and drives complications.... Read more
New Imaging Tool Sheds Light on Tumor Fat Metabolism
Rapidly growing tumors reprogram metabolism to meet high energy demands. While many cancers preferentially consume glucose, lipid utilization by malignant cells is difficult to measure in living subjects.... Read more
Radiopharmaceutical Molecule Marker to Improve Choice of Bladder Cancer Therapies
Targeted cancer therapies only work when tumor cells express the specific molecular structures they are designed to attack. In urothelial carcinoma, a common form of bladder cancer, the cell surface protein... Read more
General/Advanced Imaging
view channel
AI Tool Predicts Side Effects from Lung Cancer Treatment
Radiation therapy is a central treatment for lung cancer, but even carefully targeted radiation can affect surrounding healthy tissue. Patients may develop side effects such as lung inflammation, coughing,... Read more
AI Tool Offers Prognosis for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
Oropharyngeal cancer is a form of head and neck cancer that can spread through lymph nodes, significantly affecting survival and treatment decisions. Current therapies often involve combinations of surgery,... Read more
Imaging IT
view channel
Breast Imaging Software Enhances Visualization and Tissue Characterization in Challenging Cases
Breast imaging can be particularly challenging in cases involving small breasts or implants, where image reconstruction and tissue characterization may be limited. Clinicians also need reproducible analysis... Read more
New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible
Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more
Global AI in Medical Diagnostics Market to Be Driven by Demand for Image Recognition in Radiology
The global artificial intelligence (AI) in medical diagnostics market is expanding with early disease detection being one of its key applications and image recognition becoming a compelling consumer proposition... Read more
Industry News
view channel
Nuclear Medicine Set for Continued Growth Driven by Demand for Precision Diagnostics
Clinical imaging services face rising demand for precise molecular diagnostics and targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy as cancer and chronic disease rates climb. A new market analysis projects rapid expansion... Read more
