Portable MRI scanner

[HAL9000]

I think the machine looks like this...



So the idea is to use a weak magnetic images, which allows the machine to bought to the patient . Also its a lot cheaper than a normal MRI machine, so may make the technology available to a greater number of hospitals.

Magnetic field strength for this machine is 0.064 T, compared to 1.5T for a normal scanner or 15,000 times stronger than that produced by the Earth.

Reduced magnetic field produces lower quality images, so uses image processing to try and compensate for the weaker magnetic field. Even with the post processing the image quality is not going to be as good as a normal MRI machine, so the aim of the study was to show that the images generated were still useful for detecting strokes.

Some audio...

9minutes 25 seconds

BBC World Service - Science In Action, Climate techno-fix would worsen global malaria burden

Solar geoengineering to curb climate change could worsen global malaria burden.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[WouldBe]

Not going to fit one in an ambulance though.

 

[HAL9000]

Not going to fit one in an ambulance though.

Maybe, quick google search. There are other methods to image the brain, infrared might be an option, near infrared spectroscopy.



Another solution is to use a type of xray machine, CT scanner (use to be called CAT scan). Radiation dose is higher than a normal xray, around 2 mSv for comparison, annual exposure limit for nuclear industry employees is 20 mSv. So its safe but I assume doctors are only going to use a CT scanner if its really needed.



Now its possible to fit a CT scanner in a small truck, given the cost and skills needed its not going to be fitted to normal ambulances.

Australian government has given some money to a company called Micro-X to make a scanner that can fit in an aircraft

Partnership develops mobile CT scanner for ambulances

A mobile CT scanner small enough to fit into standard ambulances, has been designed and developed by Monash University in partnership with Micro-X.

www.med-technews.com

I wonder if improvements can be made with CT scanners to give a much lower dose of radiation combined with image processing to spot a bleed or a stroke automatically.