A team at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is working on testing a portable MRI scanner from Hyperfine to perform scans on stroke patients while they are being transported in a moving ambulance.
The Hyperfine scanner weighs about 1,400 lb and is about the size of an office printer turned on its side. Researchers touted MRI's ability to provide accurate imaging of small blockages and blood clots in stroke patients without exposing patients or staff to radiation. They said using MRI in ambulances could especially help patients being transported from rural settings.
By performing MRI en route to hospitals, MUSC hopes to reduce the number of stroke deaths. The team will write up a report of their practical demonstration.
