Hyperfine Unveils AI-Powered Software for Rapid MR Imaging

Hyperfine has developed and released a new software enhancement that enables brain scans in under three minutes with no ionizing radiation. This development is especially significant for young hydrocephalus patients, who may have difficulty staying still without sedation and have previously received a computed tomography (CT) scan, which has radiation exposure due to lack of MRI access.

Hyperfine is an official partner with the Hydrocephalus Association (HA), the nation’s most widely respected organization dedicated to research and advocacy of hydrocephalus. This complex disease accounts for more than 40,000 hospital admissions annually.
 
Children suffering from hydrocephalus typically receive more than two brain scans annually to ensure that pressure on the brain caused by enlarged ventricles remains normal and to rule out the possibility of shunt malfunctions. Clinicians may perform these brain scans with CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but MRI is not always available. Published studies show that even a single pediatric head CT scan increases the risk of radiation-associated malignancy, potentially up to two times as much as those children that did not have a CT scan.¹ In short, pediatric head CT scans pose a significant health risk to children with hydrocephalus.
 
“There is no way to prevent hydrocephalus, and there is no known cure. Young people diagnosed with this life-threatening neurological condition require life-long brain monitoring,” Hyperfine Chief Medical Officer Dr. Khan Siddiqui said. “Hyperfine designed the Swoop system to bring low-field MRI to the point of care. This unique ability allows young patients to be imaged sooner, avoid harmful ionizing radiation, stay close to their caregivers, and eliminates the intimidating experience of transport and lengthy wait times often associated with traditional MR imaging.”
 
The recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of this software upgrade includes a T1 Standard sequence optimized for imaging the inside of the brain and a Fast T2 sequence that provides images that can aid in the assessment of brain ventricles. This clearance supports the commitment of Hyperfine to drive innovation in portable low-field MRI and deliver product enhancements clinicians can use to improve patient care.
 
Hyperfine Inc. created Swoop, the world’s first FDA-cleared portable MRI system. The Swoop Portable MR Imaging System produces high-quality images at a lower magnetic field strength, allowing clinicians to quickly scan, diagnose and treat patients in various point-of-care clinical settings. Swoop can be wheeled directly to the patient’s bedside, plugged into a standard electrical wall outlet, and controlled by a tablet. Designed as a complementary system to conventional MRIs at a fraction of the cost, Swoop captures images in minutes, providing critical decision-making capabilities across a variety of clinical settings. 

Reference
¹ https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00381-019-04345-3