Portable MRI for use during brain surgery
Portable Intraoperative MRI for Neurosurgery
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · NEURO42, INC. · NIH-11009482
Trying a compact, mobile MRI that can be used during brain operations so surgeons have up-to-date images while they work.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NEURO42, INC. (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11009482 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project is building a very small, low-field MRI that can be brought into a regular operating room and attached to the head frame surgeons already use, so images can be taken during surgery without moving the patient. The team will design and refine the scanner's size, power, cooling, and software to safely work around typical OR equipment. They will integrate the device with standard stereotactic frames and test image quality and workflow using phantoms and simulated surgical setups before use in clinical settings. The goal is to make intraoperative MRI practical and fast enough to fit into routine neurosurgical care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people having neurosurgery for brain tumors or other lesions where updated imaging during the operation could change surgical decisions.
Not a fit: Patients not having brain surgery or whose procedures do not require intraoperative imaging would not directly benefit from this device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give surgeons real-time MRI pictures during brain operations, improving accuracy of tumor or lesion removal and lowering complication risk.
How similar studies have performed: Fixed intraoperative MRI suites have been helpful in some centers, but truly portable low-field scanners designed to work inside standard ORs are relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES
- NEURO42, INC. — SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PENG, HAIDONG — NEURO42, INC.
- Study coordinator: PENG, HAIDONG
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.