Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a tomographic method of examining internal organs and tissues using the physical phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance. Method is based on measurement of electromagnetic response of atomic nuclei, most often nuclei of hydrogen atoms, namely on excitation of them by certain combination of electromagnetic waves in constant magnetic field of high intensity.
Main article: Radiology (radiation diagnostics)
MRI is a method of examining the internal structure of the body that allows you to see soft tissue well, while X-rays known to everyone are not strong in this and are more suitable for studying bones.
In MRI, the body is not exposed to harmful ionizing radiation, but is placed in an alternating magnetic field. Although lying in the MR-tomograph pipe is not particularly pleasant, in 2019 studies show that this is not at all harmful, but doctors can get a lot of useful information about the structure and work of internal organs.
MRIs scanners
Main article: MRI scanners
MRI production in Russia
Main article: MRI production in Russia
Tomograph incidents
Main article: Tomograph incidents
The harms of MRI
Main article: The harms of MRI
Mobile tomographs
Main article: Mobile tomographs
Repair of tomographs
Main article: Repair of tomographs
2025: ITMO learned how to process MRI images of the heart in a couple of minutes using AI
Scientists ITMO together with colleagues from Almazov National Medical Research Center figured out how to quickly detect fibrosis hearts using deep learning. To do this, they designed one algorithm that divides the image of the heart into 17 segments, and then determines the location and amount of fibrous tissue. The development will free doctors from the difficult work of processing MRI images and optimize the selection of the most effective treatment strategy heart attack and other heart diseases. The results of the study, supported by the grant, RSF are published in the journal Biomedical Signal Processing and Control. This was announced on March 17, 2025 by the press service of the Russian scientific foundation. More. here
2024: Russia has developed a technology for obtaining a clear image of the lungs on MRI
At the end of January 2024, Russian researchers from the International Tomographic Center (ITC) of the SB RAS announced the development of a new lung imaging technology through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is expected that the solution will simplify and reduce the cost of diagnosing various diseases. Read more here.
2023: Siberia develops new way to diagnose osteomyelitis with MRI
The Siberian State Medical University (SibGMU) has developed a new way to diagnose osteomyelitis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The press service of the university told about this on February 20, 2023. Read more here.
2022
MRI sensor created that sees light in the depths of the brain
In late December 2022, using a new specialized magnetic resonance imaging sensor, MIT researchers showed that they could detect light deep in tissues such as the brain. Read more here.
Russia has developed a method for controlling the quality of medical tomographs using a neural network
Specialists of the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, together with mathematicians of Moscow State University, have developed a method for monitoring the quality of medical tomographs, which will allow timely detection of malfunctions of MRI devices in automatic mode. It is based on machine learning technology. Read more here.
2021
New MRI method reveals vascular problems that often cause dementia
At the end of May 2021, researchers at the University of Kentucky (UK) and the University of Southern California ( USA ) showed a new non-invasive MRI neuroimaging method, which allows early detection of blood-brain barrier dysfunction (BBB) associated with cerebral microangiopathy. This disease is the most common cause of vascular cognitive impairment, which results in a large proportion of cases developing dementia. BBB dysfunction represents a promising early marker of cerebral microangiopathy, as it is BBB that regulates a number of important metabolic functions, including the elimination of toxic substances from the brain.
Far-advanced BBB dysfunction can be detected through a variety of neuroimaging techniques, such as PAT dynamic contrast MRI. However, these methods are invasive and cannot detect abnormalities in the early stages. The researchers introduced a new, non-invasive MRI technique called diffusion-prepared arterial spin labeling (blood DP-ASL). The new method reveals even minimal BBB dysfunction associated with a change in water exchange rate.
The results of the study showed that low levels of amyloid beta in the cerebrospinal fluid were associated with low rates of BBB water exchange estimated by the DP-ASL method. Excess accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain is considered a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and is also seen in many cases of cerebral microangiopathy. The results of the study are consistent with theories suggesting that insufficient amyloid beta output through the BBB may impair BBB function, which in turn may exacerbate amyloid beta accumulation in the brain and developing dementia.[1]
Quantum sensor will improve the accuracy of measuring magnetic fields when examining the brain
On April 5, 2021, it became known that physicists from MIPT and Terra Quantum, together with colleagues from the USA and Switzerland, developed an algorithm that allows measurements to be made using artificial multi-level atoms. Such a quantum sensor allows you to get the necessary accuracy when measuring magnetic fields. It will also find application in the study of the brain and in the study of deep space.
The video below shows a tomography of the brain.
Moreover, a system of several quantum magnetometers can work as an ultra-sensitive spatial detector. Such devices are needed to do tomography for patients, analyze ore deposits, study the structure of biomolecules and inorganic materials. Read more here.
Announcement of the system for 3D reconstruction of injuries by CT and MRI images
In late March 2021, SFR Medical providing Great Britain police with medical evidence reports, it announced the creation of a scalable solution for three-dimensional reconstructions of injuries. More. here
Detection of child malformations in utero via MRI
In mid-March 2021, researchers demonstrated that MRI can more accurately detect and detect malformations of the head, neck, chest, abdomen and spine of the fetus than traditional methods of examining children in the womb. Read more here.
2020
Doctors began seeing the baby's heart in the womb in 4D through a new MRI technique
At the end of October 2020, researchers from King's College London presented a new MRI-based examination technique that will allow clinicians to see the heart of an unborn child in 4D format. Specially developed mathematical models of motion correction eliminate the problems that doctors face when conducting a traditional ultrasound of large vessels and the heart of the fetus. Read more here.
Polarean MRI Gas Production System Announcement
In mid-September 2020, Polarean Imaging introduced equipment for the production of hyperpolarized gas, which amplifies the MRI signal 100,000 times. The technology should help doctors diagnose respiratory diseases faster and more accurately, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.
Canon releases software to speed up MRI scans
In mid-June 2020, Canon Medical Systems released the Compressed Speeder software, which developers say speeds up MRI scans and serves more patients. The technology has already found use in Vantage Korean 1.5T scanners. Read more here.
2019
ESCS avoids unnecessary contrast in MRI
In late May 2019, 3D radiology specialists used a computer-aided design (CAD) system to assess whether patients with multiple sclerosis should be injected with contrast agent in brain MRI scans. Read more here.
Virus applied to MRI images of cancer tumors created
In early April 2019, Israeli researchers created a virus applied to MRI images of tumor images to draw attention to serious safety issues of medical equipment.
The malware they created shows how easy it is for attackers to automatically add realistic malignancies to CT or MRI images. In addition, the virus can find and remove images of real tumors. Such interventions result in misdiagnosis and denial of timely care.
Scientists from the Cybersecurity Research Center of Ben-Gurion University in Israel conducted a blind study with real CT images of the lungs. Three qualified radiologists failed to distinguish 70 changed images from ordinary ones: if the virus added a tumor to the picture, specialists diagnosed cancer in 99% of cases, if the virus removed the real tumor, in 94% of cases radiologists considered these patients healthy. Even after radiologists were told of malware intervention and provided with a second set of 20 images, half of which were also changed, experts continued to insist on an erroneous diagnosis 60% of the time. In addition, the virus managed to deceive a lung cancer program, which radiologists often use to confirm diagnoses.
The study focused only on detecting lung cancer, but scientists warn that anything - brain tumors, heart disease, blood clots on coronarography, spinal injuries, bone fractures - could be targeted. At the same time, attackers can easily inject a virus into the hospital network due to vulnerabilities in the protection system. Ideally, hospitals should provide end-to-end encryption on the PACS network and digitally sign all images.[2]
2018: MRI reveals early brain damage from cocaine use
On April 25, 2018, the results of a clinical study were published, according to which MRI scans using a diffusion tensor imaging technique (DTI) are able to detect microstructural changes in the white matter of the brain in people who use cocaine. Read more here.
2017
Compressed sensing technology to accelerate MRI
In October 2017, the German medical device manufacturer Siemens Healthineers acquired a license to use compressed sensing technology, which significantly reduces the patient's stay in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner - from 45 to several minutes or even seconds - without compromising the quality of research. The new development was created and patented at Rice University in Texas (USA).
Thanks to compressed sensing technology, the time it takes to scan the heart in an MRI machine is only 25 seconds. In this case, the patient does not need to hold his breath or somehow change it differently in order to get accurate results.
In other MRI equipment equipped with traditional methods of accelerating studies, patients must lie motionless for four minutes or longer, hold their breath 7 to 12 times during one cardiovascular pathology assessment procedure.
According to the developers, the compressed sensing technique can change the processes of magnetic resonance imaging of the abdominal cavity, which is very important for some groups of patients.
For example, children and people with lung problems should not have abdominal MRI scans due to their inability to hold their breath several times for a short period of time for a long time. With compressed sensing, the amount of data required for high-quality diagnostic imaging is significantly reduced, allowing patients to breathe freely and receive contrasting high-resolution abdominal images in the process.
According to Rice University professor Richard Baraniuk, modern MRI devices use mathematical algorithms created back in the 1930s and provide scans for up to 45 minutes, while patients need to lie motionless, which is not easy for children and people in severe pain.
 | The new technology will also help patients with heart problems. Previously, the low quality of diagnosis did not allow many such patients to benefit from MRI of the heart, but now it is possible to register the entire heart cycle in real time in one breath-exhalation, - said Baranyuk. |  |
Compressed sensing could find applications outside of medicine - for example, in radar and security systems - through rapid information processing and the creation of quality images from fewer input, he said.
Rice University Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Kevin Kelly adds that by October 2017, his lab is also using the technology in nonlinear optical microscopy.
The publication Phys.org writes that Baranyuk and Kelly have been researching compressed sensing technology for a long time. Back in 2006, they created the world's first single-pixel camera, which was proof of the technology's effectiveness. According to scientists, their development is a "big victory" for medicine.
In 2016, Siemens Healthineers introduced MRI scanners using compressed sensing mechanisms, thanks to which the company achieved accelerated sampling for imaging, high imaging resolution and reduced time for the entire scanning procedure.
| | It's great to see that the idea has moved from theory to practice, which will improve the lives of patients around the world, Baranyuk and Kelly said in a joint statement.[3] | |
Using MRI to Determine Tendency to Depression
At the end of March 2017, scientists from the University of Texas talked about technology that allows us to identify a tendency to depression using magnetic resonance imaging and artificial intelligence.
Researchers are using a supercomputer to perfect a machine learning algorithm to look for common traits in people who may develop depression. To do this, MRI images of the brain, gene data and other necessary information are loaded into the computer system.
The technology under test is called Support Vector Machine Learning. It provides a computer with a set of training examples describing the signs characteristic of healthy people and patients with depression.
During the study, data from the brains of 52 people with a mental disorder and 45 healthy people were analyzed. For the accuracy of the experiment, people divided into groups according to age and gender were compared.
Based on the results of the diffusion tensor MRI process, the scientists compared the level of fractional anisotropy showing the presence and density of white matter (that is, clusters of nerve cells) inside the brain.
The results of the study confirmed the assumption of scientists that by analyzing the maps of fractional anisotropy, the risk of developing depression can be determined. The scale and complexity of the study did not allow the team to manually revise all medical images, so machine learning was used to automate the process, the portal notes DOTmed.com.
David Schnyer, lead researcher, cognitive neuroscientist and professor at the University of Texas, says that the results are promising, but they cannot yet be used as a means for clinical measurements. The algorithm will be able to perform much better after increasing the number of genomic data processed, Schneier said.[4]
2016
MRI confirmation of the effect of prayer on alcoholics
At the end of March 2016, the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse published the results of a study showing that prayers help reduce alcohol cravings in people with this bad habit. This conclusion was reached by specialists from the Langon Medical Center at the University of New York after conducting a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure for the brains of former alcoholics.
The researchers analyzed 20 members of one of the Alcoholics Anonymous clubs who had been drinking for more than one year. During the experiment, they were asked to read out special prayers developed by the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous after viewing images related to drinking (bottles of alcohol, the process of drinking alcohol, etc.).
Alcoholics Anonymous prayed for a week after the desire to drink appeared. They acknowledged that prayers drastically reduced cravings for alcohol, generating indifference to it. The same was shown by the results of MRI of the brain.
According to the scientists, the MRI data demonstrated positive changes in the prefrontal cortex, which controls attention, as well as the area responsible for controlling emotions.
| | The passion for drinking among members of the Alcoholics Anonymous Society after prayer decreased compared to patients who stopped drinking for a certain period of time, but are susceptible to re-drinking, "said Mark Galanter, author of the study, professor of psychiatry and head of the Department of Addiction at New York University. | |
According to him, the results of the experiment open up a new direction of research related to the influence of religion on physiology, and will also help develop effective methods for treating alcoholism and other diseases.[5]
Creating Siemens Fast MRI Software
In March 2016, Siemens Healthcare introduced new software that can speed up magnetic resonance imaging in neurology. Read more here.
Notes
- ↑ New MRI Technique can Detect Early Dysfunction of the Blood-brain Barrier with Small Vessel Disease
- ↑ Hospital viruses: Fake cancerous nodes in CT scans, created by malware, trick radiologists
- ↑ New technology could cut MRI scan times
- ↑ Training computers to identify a depression candidate's brain MR scan
- ↑ Brain MRI reveals how AA prayers work
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