Impact
Patient-friendly MRI scans
New patient populations can undergo magnetic resonance imaging thanks to NSF-funded mathematics research.
Faster MRIs are reducing patient costs for the imaging technique.
Credit and Larger Version
July 9, 2018
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In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices that scan between eight and 16 times faster than conventional methods. Cardiac scans now take just 25 seconds and do not require patients to hold their breath. The FDA approval makes MRIs available to patient populations previously ineligible for some scans, such as those with irregular heartbeats, those with dementia and children.
The devices, now commercially available from Siemens (CS Cardiac Sine) and General Electric (Hypersense), rely on compressed sensing, a breakthrough technique developed 10 years ago by NSF-supported mathematicians. Faster MRI scans will give more patients access to the imaging technology at a lower cost per patient.
NSF Directorate(s):
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Locations
California
Related Awards
#0505303 Rigorous Methods for Dimensionality Reduction of High-Dimensional Data
#0515362 Signal Recovery from Highly Incomplete Data
#0619860 Cluster Expansion for Applied and Computational Mathematics
#0631558 Alan T. Waterman Award
Related Websites
Compressed sensing: https://usa.healthcare.siemens.com/magnetic-resonance-imaging/mri-technologies/speed-technologies/compressed-sensing
Shorter scan times without compromising image quality: http://www3.gehealthcare.sa/~/media/documents/us-global/products/magnetic-resonance-imaging/signa%20fall%202016/issue%20spotlight/hypersense.pdf
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