SBIR-STTR Award

The overall goal of this Fast Track project is to combine innovations in superconducting magnet design and new developments in solid state MRI to create a highly compact, robust, mobile, lightweight, and affordable MRI for scanning the peripheral skeleton, including the knee, of the majority of the public. This scanner will use a unique, cryogen-free 3-bore actively shielded superconducting magnet that makes the scanner a realistic "point-of- care" device that can be installed in smaller clinics, or even a doctor's office. The proposed scanner uses an innovative magnet design that allows the patient to have both legs comfortably stretched out into two separate warm bores of magnet. The combination of proven technologies in design and manufacturing of high-field (1.5T and higher) cryogen-free MRI magnets and the innovative 3-bore scanner will provide a significant breakthrough in providing a versatile, realistic point-of-care 1.5 T knee-accessible extremity MRI to the aging public.

Public Health Relevance Statement:


Public Health Relevance:
The Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (DGCG) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is calling for the "Development and validation of non-invasive methods of examining bone quality (density, architecture, and strength of bone)", listed under area of interest G of DGCG research topics. Recent studies have shown the utility of MRI in addressing several factors related to bone quality. The overall goal of this project, Phase I and II combined, is to combine innovation in superconducting magnet design and new developments in solid state MRI to create a highly compact, robust, mobile, lightweight, cryogen-free, and affordable MRI for scanning the peripheral skeleton, including the knee, of the majority of the public.

Project Terms:
Address; Aging; Animals; Architecture; Area; base; bone; Bone Matrix; bone quality; bone strength; Caliber; chemical standard; Clinic; Clinical; Complex; cost; cost effective; cryostat; Data; density; design; Development; Devices; Diagnosis; Engineering; Family suidae; Geriatrics; Gerontology; Goals; Gold; healthy volunteer; Image; innovation; interest; Ionizing radiation; Knee; Left; Leg; Legal patent; Life; Limb structure; Location; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Measurement; Measures; meetings; Metabolic Bone Diseases; Methods; Metric; Minerals; Modality; MRI Scans; Musculoskeletal; National Institute on Aging; Patients; Performance; Peripheral; Phase; point of care; Point-of-Care Systems; Positioning Attribute; Production; Protocols documentation; prototype; public health relevance; Research; Resolution; Scanning; screening; Site; Skeleton; Small Business Innovation Research Grant; Solid; solid state; Stretching; Technology; Testing; Validation; Weight-Bearing state

The overall goal of this Fast Track project is to combine innovations in superconducting magnet design and new developments in solid state MRI to create a highly compact, robust, mobile, lightweight, and affordable MRI for scanning the peripheral skeleton, including the knee, of the majority of the public. This scanner will use a unique, cryogen-free 3-bore actively shielded superconducting magnet that makes the scanner a realistic "point-of- care" device that can be installed in smaller clinics, or even a doctor's ofice. The proposed scanner uses an innovative magnet design that allows the patient to have both legs comfortably stretched out into two separate warm bores of magnet. The combination of proven technologies in design and manufacturing of high-field (1.5T and higher) cryogen-free MRI magnets and the innovative 3-bore scanner will provide a significant breakthrough in providing a versatile, realistic point-of-care 1.5 T knee-accessible extremity MRI to the aging public.

Public Health Relevance Statement:


Public Health Relevance:
The Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (DGCG) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is calling for the "Development and validation of non-invasive methods of examining bone quality (density, architecture, and strength of bone)", listed under area of interest G of DGCG research topics. Recent studies have shown the utility of MRI in addressing several factors related to bone quality. The overall goal of this project, Phase I and II combined, is to combine innovation in superconducting magnet design and new developments in solid state MRI to create a highly compact, robust, mobile, lightweight, cryogen-free, and affordable MRI for scanning the peripheral skeleton, including the knee, of the majority of the public.

NIH Spending Category:
Aging; Bioengineering; Diagnostic Radiology

Project Terms:
Address; Aging; Animals; Architecture; Area; base; bone; Bone Matrix; bone quality; bone strength; Caliber; chemical standard; Clinic; Clinical; Complex; cost; cost effective; cryostat; Data; density; design; Development; Devices; Diagnosis; Engineering; Family suidae; Geriatrics; Gerontology; Goals; Gold; Health; healthy volunteer; Image; innovation; interest; Ionizing radiation; Knee; Left; Leg; Legal patent; Life; Limb structure; Location; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Measurement; Measures; meetings; Metabolic Bone Diseases; Methods; Minerals; Modality; MRI Scans; Musculoskeletal; National Institute on Aging; Patients; Performance; Peripheral; Phase; point of care; Point-of-Care Systems; Positioning Attribute; Production; Protocols documentation; prototype; Research; Resolution; Scanning; screening; Site; Skeleton; Small Business Innovation Research Grant; Solid; solid state; Stretching; Technology; Testing; Validation; Weight-Bearing state