MIT's MRI Algorithm Will Scan Your Brain In 15 Minutes

Engineers & researchers at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology have developed smarter algorithms that reduce the time required to scan your brain from 45 minutes to just 15 minutes. What this means is you don't have to stay immobile in the MRI machines for longer durations. Typically, the MRI aka Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines scan the entire inside of body with a combination of radio & magnetic fields. Several photographs of the same body parts are taken in order to create contrast between different types of tissues. These images are then analysed to produce the desired image. These images can reveal in-depth analysis of your body and even detect very early signs of tumors & cancer. The problem with current MRI scans is that the whole process is very lengthy (takes about 45 minutes) and the patient has to remain immobile inside the machine so that the machine develops accurate scans. MIT engineers however have developed algorithms that speeds up this process cutting down the time to a third.


Image Credit: MIT

The new algorithm developed by researchers from computer sciences, health sciences and electrical engineering uses the information collected from the first scan to speed up the next scans. The scanner does not have to start from zero to produce the subsequent scans. It already has enough information from the first image to speed up the next scan. However, faster scans do have an impact on the overall image quality. However, this impact is very small as compared to the other competing algorithms. The engineers are working on reducing the scanning time further and improving the final image quality.

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