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Abstract #0494

Progress towards a dedicated 136 mT Portable MRI Scanner for Brain Imaging in the Neonatal ICU

Monika Sliwiak1, Aaron R Purchase2, Sarah E Altman1,3, Jeff Short1, Mathias David1,4, Valerie S Klein1,4, Jason P Stockmann1,4, Lawrence L Wald1,3,4, and Clarissa Zimmerman Cooley1,4
1Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States, 2M-Tech Research Canada Ltd., Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States, 4Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Low-Field MRI, Low-Field MRI

Motivation: Premature neonates face high risks of neurological injuries like HIE, a major cause of disability and mortality. While MRI is ideal for early diagnosis, transporting critically ill neonates to MRI facilities is risky, necessitating bedside imaging solutions.

Goal(s): Develop a portable MRI optimized for the NICU to provide high-quality, on-site brain imaging for conditions like HIE.

Approach: We develop a compact magnet with ~2X higher field compared with other portable MRI scanners. Compact efficient gradient are optimized.

Results: The 136 mT Halbach magnet (65cm x 65cm, 313.4kg) achieved pre-shimmed homogeneity of 5,374 ppm in 14cm DSV. Gradient coils were designed with 0.8mT/m/A efficiency.

Impact: The 136 mT bedside NICU MRI scanner addresses the high risks associated with transporting fragile neonates to conventional MRI facilities, offering safe, on-site brain imaging in the NICU. This could enable faster diagnosis and earlier interventions, potentially improving clinical outcomes.

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Keywords