Portable MRI is an emerging technology that brings many advantages to the medical imaging community. Currently, the standard MRI scanner is the conventional system for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the U.S, reaching approximately thirty million scans annually, according to Envision Radiology. As widespread as it is, the standard MRI scanner is unfortunately not easily accessible to patients. Many healthcare facilities across the country only have one MRI scanner in place due to high costs and special infrastructural changes associated with maintenance and storage. The road to acquiring a scan itself can be time-consuming as it requires an approved referral from the physician, followed by the waiting period for the actual appointment which can be weeks to months in the future.
The current model of imaging care through the standard MRI scanner can create a bottleneck for the patient flow with one available scanner per facility for the large pool of patients that require imaging services throughout the year. This limitation can restrict the number of patients that are able to receive an MRI scan in one day. However, the emergence of the portable MRI scanner brings a future where imaging care is more accessible to patients without a required referral and where healthcare facilities do not have to completely rely on one hospital system for basic imaging needs. The adoption of the portable system at urgent cares, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and other health facilities can decrease the number of hospital trips due to its point-of-care design, as it can be moved within the facility from one patient to another which will allow the staff to care for more patients. This transportation-friendly design can prevent any physical strain on patients and adverse effects that can occur during the move. In addition, the portable MRI scanner will bring a solution to the patient bottleneck created by the standard MRI scanner which will allow everyone to get the imaging care that they need in a timely manner.
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Every year, millions of people experience some form of brain-related injury or disease, such as traumatic brain injury, malignant and benign brain tumors, ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. These conditions can have devastating effects on patients’ lives, as well as their loved ones, but these conditions do not get as much attention as they should. At neuro42, we aim to help individuals with history of stroke and brain tumor with the use of our portable and compact, low-field MRI scanner, primarily focusing on post-stroke management and brain tumor resections. Easy access to MRI imaging services, regardless of the facility will provide patients and individuals with the opportunity to monitor their brain health after a stroke and will give physicians the chance to make a timely medical intervention. With the many benefits that the portable MRI scanner brings, this technology can transform the medical imaging landscape by bringing a crucial imaging service to the patient, rather than the other way, allowing for easier and accessible health management to communities in need and pave the way for new innovations in the imaging world.