London doctors have made major advances in detecting brain conditions in babies using Europe’s first ever portable MRI scanner.
Experts at Evelina London Children's Hospital and King's College London found that the technology could make testing for newborn babies with suspected brain abnormalities more accessible and affordable.
Researchers conducted more than 100 paired scans at Evelina Newborn Imaging Centre and compared brain images from the new portable MRI with those from a traditional fixed MRI scanner.
The portable MRI scanner was found to effectively detect both normal brain anatomy, as well as a wide range of “clinically important” abnormalities.
For the study, researchers adapted the machine so that it can scan using a weakened magnetic field, instead of the stronger one needed for traditional MRI machines.
This means it is safe to use on small babies at their cot-side or in intensive care units, without having to move them for conventional imaging when critically sick.
MRI scans are complex, expensive and often not available outside medical facilities.
As a result, access to MRI is 140 times less in low-income countries compared with high-income countries, and there are countries who have no access to MRI at all.
Portable MRI scanners are much less expensive to produce and are deployable directly within hospital settings, researchers said. This could enable more healthcare providers to scan babies and children – especially those with no access to static MRI scanners.
Dr Paul Cawley, consultant neurologist at the Evelina and lead author for the study, said: “This study is a much needed first step in establishing the potential of portable MRI scans for newborn babies. MRI is critical for diagnosing and deciding the best course of treatment for infants with suspected brain abnormalities.
“However, over half the world’s population have severely limited or no access to MRI facilities. Even within highly resourced healthcare settings, transporting vulnerable infants needing intensive care to radiology departments for their scans can be challenging. Portable scanners could democratise access to brain imaging and offer many novel solutions to these challenges.”
The research was conducted as part of the UNITY Project – an initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
