Low-field MRI: Clinical promise and challenges

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• High-field MRI scanners provide superior signal and resolution but are costly and inaccessible in many regions.
• Low-field MRI (LF-MRI) is gaining interest for its potential to increase imaging accessibility due to lower costs and portability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the advantages and disadvantages of LF-MRI scanners.
• To describe innovations in hardware and software for LF-MRI.
• To explore potential clinical applications of next-generation LF-MRI devices.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on LF-MRI technology and applications.
• Analysis of hardware and software advancements mitigating LF-MRI limitations.
• Exploration of clinical use cases, including neuroimaging, MRI-guided procedures, and musculoskeletal imaging.

Main Results:

• LF-MRI offers significant cost and portability benefits, potentially broadening access to medical imaging.
• Innovations in hardware and software are improving LF-MRI image quality and addressing signal limitations.
• Potential clinical applications span high-acuity brain imaging to musculoskeletal diagnostics, with tailored approaches for diverse settings.

Conclusions:

• LF-MRI presents a transformative opportunity to expand medical imaging access globally.
• Addressing challenges in clinical translation, validation, and integration is crucial for widespread adoption.
• Next-generation LF-MRI devices hold promise for enhancing healthcare delivery in both high- and low-resource settings.