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
New
Ultrasound Needle Guide
Ultra-Pro 3
Diagnostic Ultrasound System
MS1700C
New
Cylindrical Water Scanning System
SunSCAN 3D
40/80-Slice CT System
uCT 528
Latest MRI News
- AI Tool Tracks Effectiveness of Multiple Sclerosis Treatments Using Brain MRI Scans
- Ultra-Powerful MRI Scans Enable Life-Changing Surgery in Treatment-Resistant Epileptic Patients
- AI-Powered MRI Technology Improves Parkinson’s Diagnoses
- Biparametric MRI Combined with AI Enhances Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer
- First-Of-Its-Kind AI-Driven Brain Imaging Platform to Better Guide Stroke Treatment Options
- New Model Improves Comparison of MRIs Taken at Different Institutions
- Groundbreaking New Scanner Sees 'Previously Undetectable' Cancer Spread
- First-Of-Its-Kind Tool Analyzes MRI Scans to Measure Brain Aging
- AI-Enhanced MRI Images Make Cancerous Breast Tissue Glow
- AI Model Automatically Segments MRI Images
- New Research Supports Routine Brain MRI Screening in Asymptomatic Late-Stage Breast Cancer Patients
- Revolutionary Portable Device Performs Rapid MRI-Based Stroke Imaging at Patient's Bedside
- AI Predicts After-Effects of Brain Tumor Surgery from MRI Scans
- MRI-First Strategy for Prostate Cancer Detection Proven Safe
- First-Of-Its-Kind 10' x 48' Mobile MRI Scanner Transforms User and Patient Experience
- New Model Makes MRI More Accurate and Reliable
Channels
Radiography
view channel
World's Largest Class Single Crystal Diamond Radiation Detector Opens New Possibilities for Diagnostic Imaging
Diamonds possess ideal physical properties for radiation detection, such as exceptional thermal and chemical stability along with a quick response time. Made of carbon with an atomic number of six, diamonds... Read more
AI-Powered Imaging Technique Shows Promise in Evaluating Patients for PCI
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure where small metal tubes called stents are inserted into partially blocked coronary arteries... Read more
Ultrasound
view channel
Ultrasound-Based Microscopy Technique to Help Diagnose Small Vessel Diseases
Clinical ultrasound, commonly used in pregnancy scans, provides real-time images of body structures. It is one of the most widely used imaging techniques in medicine, but until recently, it had little... Read more
Smart Ultrasound-Activated Immune Cells Destroy Cancer Cells for Extended Periods
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has emerged as a highly promising cancer treatment, especially for bloodborne cancers like leukemia. This highly personalized therapy involves extracting... Read more
Nuclear Medicine
view channel
Novel PET Imaging Approach Offers Never-Before-Seen View of Neuroinflammation
COX-2, an enzyme that plays a key role in brain inflammation, can be significantly upregulated by inflammatory stimuli and neuroexcitation. Researchers suggest that COX-2 density in the brain could serve... Read more
Novel Radiotracer Identifies Biomarker for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which represents 15-20% of all breast cancer cases, is one of the most aggressive subtypes, with a five-year survival rate of about 40%. Due to its significant heterogeneity... Read more
General/Advanced Imaging
view channel
AI-Powered Imaging System Improves Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Given the need to detect lung cancer at earlier stages, there is an increasing need for a definitive diagnostic pathway for patients with suspicious pulmonary nodules. However, obtaining tissue samples... Read more
AI Model Significantly Enhances Low-Dose CT Capabilities
Lung cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases, making early diagnosis vital for effective treatment. Fortunately, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing lung cancer... Read more
Imaging IT
view channel
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
GE HealthCare and NVIDIA Collaboration to Reimagine Diagnostic Imaging
GE HealthCare (Chicago, IL, USA) has entered into a collaboration with NVIDIA (Santa Clara, CA, USA), expanding the existing relationship between the two companies to focus on pioneering innovation in... Read more
Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Phantoms Transform CT Imaging
New research has highlighted how anatomically precise, patient-specific 3D-printed phantoms are proving to be scalable, cost-effective, and efficient tools in the development of new CT scan algorithms... Read more
Siemens and Sectra Collaborate on Enhancing Radiology Workflows
Siemens Healthineers (Forchheim, Germany) and Sectra (Linköping, Sweden) have entered into a collaboration aimed at enhancing radiologists' diagnostic capabilities and, in turn, improving patient care... Read more