World's First Portable MRI That Transforms Imaging at Patient's Bedside with Deep Learning Granted US FDA Clearance

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 30 Nov 2021

Image: Swoop portable MRI (Photo courtesy of Hyperfine, Inc.)

The world's first portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that transforms imaging at the patient's bedside with deep learning (DL) in order to enable timely diagnosis and treatment has been granted FDA 510(k) clearance.

Hyperfine, Inc. (Guilford, CT, USA), creator of the first FDA-cleared portable MRI device, Swoop, has announced the FDA 510(k) clearance and launch of its new advanced image reconstruction technology using DL. The image quality resulting from this innovative approach elevates the diagnostic value of portable MRI.

Current MRI systems have limitations due to size, fixed location, cost, and staff training requirements. Hyperfine has overcome these limitations by rethinking MRI design from the bottom up and adding smart computing. The result is Swoop, an easy-to-use, portable, and affordable system costing less than the annual service contract of many conventional MRI systems. For clinicians, better image quality can support more accurate and faster diagnoses. For patients, more rapid diagnosis and treatment can support shorter hospital stays and an improved overall healthcare experience. With the launch of its deep learning-based advanced image reconstruction technology, Swoop can deliver crisp, clear T1, T2, and FLAIR images.

In January, Hyperfine had received FDA clearance for its advanced artificial intelligence (AI) application. This AI technology measures brain structure and pathology in images acquired by Swoop through tools featuring automatic measurement of ventricular volume, brain extraction, brain alignment, and midline shift— which can be used by clinicians to diagnose and measure acute neurological conditions at a patient's bedside. With the addition of deep learning-based advanced image reconstruction, Hyperfine has significantly improved the image quality of the Swoop system.

"Improved image quality through artificial intelligence, paired with the lower cost and bedside capabilities of Swoop, are enabling greater access to high-quality MR imaging for patients, regardless of income, resources, or location," said Dave Scott, president and chief executive officer of Hyperfine.

"Swoop is already a game-changer in terms of its ability to provide MR imaging at a patient's bedside," said Dr. Fady Charbel, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Illinois of Chicago. "With the integration of deep learning-based image reconstruction, clinicians can now visualize anatomy and pathology more clearly and with increased confidence enabling diagnosis in a more expeditious fashion, critical for the treatment of acute neurological conditions."

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Hyperfine, Inc.