<p><strong>Bringing MRI into the mainstream with innovation <br></strong>Biber and Grodzki set out to develop an MRI system that overcame all these infrastructural and operational obstacles and could be used for routine clinical cases—such as head, spine, and joint imaging, or the diagnosis of liver tumors. To achieve this, the team left no core component untouched. The prerequisite for making the new MRI system lighter, more compact, and more cost efficient than previous devices was the reduction of the magnetic field strength to just 0.55 Tesla. However, this lower field strength is intrinsically accompanied by a reduction in the measurable signal. Here, the team took advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve sufficiently high image quality for accurate diagnoses. The AI-based image reconstruction algorithm Deep Resolve is trained on high-resolution MRI data and uses neural networks to generate high-quality images from a weaker input signal. This resolves the physical hurdle of low field strength. </p><p><strong>Closed helium circuit for “dry magnet” <br></strong>A new technology called DryCool was also developed for Magnetom Free for sustainable cooling of the superconducting magnet. This not only allows for the required amount of helium to be reduced to just 0.7 liters, but it can also be used in a closed circuit. As a result, the new systems no longer lose helium during transport or power outages, eliminating the need for service with liquid helium at the installation site. In addition, there is no longer a need to install a quench pipe, through which helium is discharged directly and safely from the building into the atmosphere in the event of an emergency shutdown. Due to the reduced system specifications, the energy consumption of the Magnetom Free. Platform can also be reduced compared to conventional MRI systems. </p><p>At less than two meters high and weighing around three tons, Magnetom Free systems can be brought through the door to their destination and installed there—without the need for extensive construction work. For the first time, the reduced specifications of the system allow for an increased patient bore of 80 centimeters, which is available with the Magnetom Free.Max model. This benefits claustrophobic and obese patients as well as children. </p><p>The operation of the scanner has also been simplified to enable even inexperienced users to perform MRI examinations safely and with high-quality results. In this way, the steadily increasing shortage of well-trained system operators can be counteracted. </p><p><strong>Technologies with a promising future <br></strong>All these innovations combined are creating a new class of scanners that is opening up MRI diagnostics to new patient populations worldwide. Two years after their launch, Magnetom Free.Star and Magnetom Free.Max are available in many countries around the world, including Brazil, India, and Angola. Yemen even saw the installation of its first modern MRI in over a decade. Access to MRI diagnostics could also be improved in countries such as Germany. Here, in the Pediatric Radiology Department of Uniklinikum Erlangen, Magnetom Free.Max could be installed in a room close to the intensive care unit so that young patients can be examined more easily. It is also conceivable that, in the future, MRI units might be installed directly in the intensive care unit, in order to save patient transport and waiting times. </p><p>Technologies developed specifically for the Magnetom Free. Platform, such as AI-based image reconstruction, have already been made available for other, “larger” MRI systems that are also being used in clinical routine and research. In the medium term, the “dry magnet” technology will also play an important role for other model series developed and manufactured in Erlangen, Germany. </p><p>Together with their teams, the three nominees have helped make sure that Magnetom Free was brought to market and became established in everyday clinical practice. Stephan Biber, in his role as system architect, was responsible for driving the trend-setting hardware innovations and bringing them together into an overall system. David Grodzki’s task was the application development and the elaboration of the system specification as well as its implementation as a clinically high-quality imaging system. Michael Uder conducted the first clinical evaluations of the Magnetom Free.Max system during development and he continued this work at Uniklinikum Erlangen, the world’s first clinical installation. Together with his department, he was responsible for clinical testing and the integration of Magnetom Free.Max into clinical routine. </p><p>The Federal President’s Award for Technology and Innovation is one of Germany’s most prestigious awards in this space and will be presented to one of three nominated teams by Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on November 22.</p><p>For further information, please see:<br id="isPasted"><a href="/press/features/magnetom-free-future-prize-2023">https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/press/features/magnetom-free-future-prize-2023.</a></p>