World's Smallest MRI Scanner

World’s smallest MRI helps tiny babies.

19:21 25 January 2017

The smallest MRI scanner is being used at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital for imaging the brains of premature babies. The machine is one of only two purpose-built neonatal MRI scanners in the world.

 

When compared to ultrasound, which is normally used to scan the brains of newborns, Prof Paul Griffiths, said MRI was better at showing the structures of the brain and abnormalities more clearly.

 

"Ultrasound is cheap, portable and convenient, but the position of the fontanelles means there are some parts of the brain which cannot be viewed.

 

"MRI is able to show all of the brain and the surrounding anatomy, making the images easier to explain to parents.

 

"From a diagnostic point, the big advantage is that MRI is able to show a wider range of brain abnormalities, in particular those which result from a lack of oxygen or blood supply."

 

The MRI scanner, which was built by GE Healthcare with funding by the Wellcome Trust, had already been used on 40 babies. One of them, Alice-Rose, was born at 24 weeks and had two bleeds in the brain. Her father, Shaun, said: "It's a much crisper image and a lot easier to understand than the ultrasound."

 

Her wife Rachel added: "It's been a rollercoaster since Alice-Rose was born on 6 November: not everything was fully formed, and she still weighs only 2lb 13oz (1.28kg).

 

"The MRI was reassuring as it meant you got a better look at her brain."