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.
The harms of MRI
Main article: The harms of MRI
MRI production in Russia
Main article: MRI production in Russia
Tomograph incidents
Main article: Tomograph incidents
Mobile tomographs
Main article: Mobile tomographs
Repair of tomographs
Main article: Repair of tomographs
2024
A cheap MRI scanner has been developed that does not need a special office. Price
In early May 2024, researchers from the University of Hong Kong announced the development of a relatively inexpensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, which does not require a special room to work. The proposed solution in the future can make MRI scans much more accessible and convenient. Read more here.
The first MRI scanner is presented, which needs only 0.7 liters of helium, and not 1500 as others
On February 28, 2024, Siemens Healthineers announced the Magnetom Flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, which uses virtually no helium. Its volume is only 0.7 liters against approximately 1500 liters for traditional installations of a comparable class. Read more here.
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
A full-body MRI scanner has been released to detect cancer early. One procedure costs $2,500
In early November 2023, it became known that the California startup Prenuvo, which offers magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the whole body, received thousands of applications for its service. The procedure, which is said to provide very high diagnostic accuracy, costs $2,500. Read more here.
The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation forbade hospitals to do MRI without referral
The Supreme Court (Supreme Court) of Russia forbade citizens to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without the consent of a doctor. The relevant court decision became known in early October 2023.
According to the Agency for Legal and Judicial Information (RAPSI), a Russian who applied to the highest court suffers from back pain. But in the clinic indicated in the direction of the attending physician, it was necessary to wait for the study. He went to a private clinic to make it faster. But since there was another medical organization in the direction, he had to pay for a doctor's appointment again in order to get a referral for diagnosis and, finally, an MRI scan.
The patient filed an administrative lawsuit with the Supreme Court, in which he challenged paragraph 14 of the rules for conducting X-ray examinations, approved by order of the Ministry of Health of Russia dated 09.06.2020 No. 560n, because this rule "prevents competition in the field of paid medicine, breeds red tape and does not give him the right to choose."
 | For an unknown reason, it is impossible to provide paid medical services without specifying the name of the clinic. We come to the conclusion that the patient irrationally uses his time to coordinate the medical institution with the attending physician. Treatment is eventually delayed. This paragraph of the rules "migrated" from free medicine, but my principal believes that it is wrong to extend them to paid medicine, - quotes the representative of the plaintiff Maria Sergeyeva RAPSI. |  |
As the representative of the Ministry of Health Alexander Shustov noted, the new rules do not restrict the freedom of patients when choosing a place for MRI. Shustov recalled that MRI has a number of contraindications and can harm health.
| | In practice at the federal level, there are a lot of cases when ordinary "self-examinations" harm the patient's health, and there are many such cases, "he explained.[1] | |
New MRI machine creates images with 64 million times greater clarity
On April 17, 2023, American researchers at Duke University (DU) announced the development of a new technology for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can increase the clarity of brain images by millions of times compared to conventional installations. Read more here.
Entered the market in the world's first MRI machine, scanning the whole body in 30 minutes
On June 1, 2023, American startup Ezra specializing in creating solutions AI for the sphere, health care he announced the development of Ezra Flash technology for the implementation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the whole body in 30 minutes. More. here
Cheap compact brain MRI machine unveiled
On May 31, 2023, the University of Minnesota (UMN) and Victoria University of Wellington announced the development of a fundamentally new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. We are talking about a relatively compact installation, which, if necessary, can be easily transported. Read more here.
Siberia has developed a new way to diagnose osteomyelitis using 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.
Philips has released an MRI scanner with an AI system. It will become easier for oncologists to find dangerous tumors
At the end of October 2022 Philips , she announced the launch MRCAT of artificial intelligence-enabled radiotherapy. The device allows the use of MRI as the main imaging method without the need for use by oncologists. computed tomography More. here
MRI machine created that examines twice as fast as others
On September 22, 2022, the University of East Anglia (UEA) introduced the Kat-ARC system, which allows diagnosing patients with heart failure twice as quickly. The technology uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create detailed 4D images of the heart. But unlike standard MRI, which can take up to 20 minutes or more, when using a new development, MRI scans take no more than eight minutes, the developers say. Read more here.
2021
A new MRI device has been released, which is several times smaller and cheaper than those used now
In mid-December 2021, the University of Hong Kong released a more compact and affordable magnetic resonance imaging system compared to other solutions on the market. The novelty uses a much smaller magnetic field and does not require shielding, but at the same time is able to diagnose brain diseases in patients. The new device has already begun to be used in clinical practice in one of the clinics in Hong Kong. Read more here.
MRI system released to assess muscle status
On December 7, 2021, the Swedish company Amra Medical announced the launch of the Amra Mass Scan system, designed to assess the state of muscles through magnetic resonance imaging. Read more here.
MRI scanner remote monitoring and control system is being tested in Moscow
Specialists of the Scientific and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Department of Health and the Morozov Children's City Clinical Hospital initiated a pilot project for remote communication with an MR tomograph, during which the first patient scan session was conducted online with remote support. Read more here.
Announcement of the world's smallest MRI scanner
In mid-July 2021, Huami, best known for the Amazfit smartwatch brand, unveiled the world's new, smallest MRI scanner. According to Huami developers, this device will be the world's first portable MRI scanner. Read more here.
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.[2]
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.
Doctors start using portable MRI brain scanner
In mid-September 2020, doctors began using a portable MRI brain scanner developed by Hyperfine. The hospital-based system identifies specific brain lesions in 29 of 30 patients with symptoms of stroke and other neurological disorders admitted to the Yale New Haven Hospital intensive care unit. 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.[3]
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
Transforming MRI machines for children's hospitals
In November 2017, it was reported that industrial designer Doug Dietz, together with his colleagues from GE Healthcare, implemented a project to comprehensively transform devices for CT, MRI and PET scans specifically for 27 children's hospitals in the United States. Through the efforts of GE Healthcare workers, the devices were stylized as spaceships, pirate islands and other favorite places for babies. According to GE Healthcare estimates, the implementation of this idea cost the company about $50 thousand.[4]
The transformation affected not only the appearance of the structures, but also the creation of the correct atmosphere. For example, before the PET scan, which takes 45 minutes, experts tell the child a mini-story that he will get on a spacecraft whose engines work very loudly. These introductory words and the favorable appearance of the apparatus significantly soothe children.
| | We used children's imagination to our advantage, "said Kathleen Kapsin, director of radiology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. - Instead of going for CT scans, you go to pirate island. We even have a monkey on a swing to play with. | |
GE Healthcare has developed separate hospital-specific topics. For example, for a children's clinic in San Francisco, designers designed a cable car near the device. And in other medical centers, children are trying to prepare for scanning in advance, giving them thematic coloring the day before the start of the procedure.
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.[5] | |
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.[6]
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.[7]
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
- ↑ analyst/ 20231004/309271525.html The Supreme Court did not allow the MRI without the consent of the attending physician
- ↑ 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
- ↑ To hospital for adventure: Designer turns MRI machine for children into pirate island
- ↑ 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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