Open Competition 2 - Electronics and Photonics

Affordable Open MRI for Unserved Markets

Sponsor: General Electric Company

• Project Performance Period: 10/1/2001 - 9/30/2004
• Total project (est.): $2,073,874.00
• Requested ATP funds: $829,549.00

The high cost of full-body-scan magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures has limited the use of this valuable tool for many applications including early diagnosis and prevention of disease. Moreover, the expense of installing the imaging hardware has limited physical distribution of the machines, especially in rural areas. The General Electric Company proposes to enable far wider use of MRI by creating the technology for small, low-cost MRI units with substantially improved image quality for evaluation of partial body injuries or ailments, such as those involving the head, legs, etc.. The project will require developing and demonstrating novel permanent magnet materials, designs, and manufacturing processes. The three-year project will focus on reducing the complexity of the MRI equipment and the expense of manufacturing it, and on increasing the strength and homogeneity of the magnetic field, which drives image quality. Key innovations include the use of recently developed rare earth alloys, an innovative design offering better homogeneity and higher field strength than any previous commercial permanent-magnet system, improved electronics for better resolution, and a novel process for magnetizing the magnetic components after assembly. Conventional MRI instruments are built by premagnetizing small blocks one by one as the system is built. Positioning and aligning the magnets is made more difficult by their field. Instead GE proposes a method to magnetize the entire system all at once after assembly. There are several major technical risks. The magnet materials have never before been produced in the quantities needed to evaluate the processing capabilities of the raw material suppliers. If the magnetic performance varies greatly, then the materials may become unsuitable. In addition, the magnetization process may not work, or may not achieve a sufficiently uniform magnetic field. If successful, however, the new alloys and new assembly process will mean significantly lower costs. ATP support will enable GE to accelerate the project by at least five years -- in fact, the research might not be pursued at all otherwise because of the high risk involved. If successfully developed and commercialized, the new technology will reduce the cost of MRI procedures by 30-50 percent and greatly expand use of the scanning equipment, also driving down cost. The availability of affordable MRI would lead to installations in small medical offices, emergency rooms, sports complexes, veterinary hospitals, and mobile facilities, enabling widespread early detection of and intervention in conditions. The magnet technology could significantly advance other fields, including the design and manufacture of electric motors.

For project information:

James Healy, (518) 387-6284
healyj@crd.ge.com

ATP Project Manager

Gerald Castellucci, (301) 975-2435
gerald.castellucci@nist.gov