Comparing portable MRI to conventional MRI in emergency settings

Portable Rapid Imaging for Medical Emergencies

NA · Yale University · NCT06930534

This study is testing if portable brain MRI scans can be done faster and more efficiently in emergency rooms compared to regular MRI scans for patients who need them.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment300 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorYale University (other)
Locations1 site (New Haven, Connecticut)
Trial IDNCT06930534 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of portable brain MRI scans in the emergency department compared to traditional MRI scans. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a portable MRI scan or standard care, with the primary focus on measuring the time from scan order to scan start. Secondary objectives include assessing the completion rates of scans, comparing imaging findings, analyzing total length of stay, and evaluating the impact on decision-making and provider satisfaction through qualitative surveys. The study will involve patients who are already scheduled for a conventional brain MRI.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who are in the emergency department and have been ordered for a conventional brain MRI.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to MRI or those who do not require brain imaging may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly reduce wait times for brain imaging in emergency situations, leading to faster diagnosis and treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in the use of portable imaging technologies, suggesting potential benefits, though this specific approach is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female ≥ 18 years of age at presentation to Yale New Haven Hospital Adult ED
* Order to receive conventional brain MRI imaging originating in the YNHH Adult ED

Exclusion Criteria:

* Lack of assent from treating physician for inclusion in this protocol.
* Contraindications to 1.5T MRI evaluation, including:

  1. Cardiac Pacemaker or defibrillator
  2. Aneurysm clip
  3. Implants or devices attached to the body in the chest or above, such as:

     1. Nerve stimulator
     2. Deep brain stimulator
     3. Programmable shunt
     4. Stent
     5. Pain pump
     6. Artificial extremity
  4. Implants in the ears (hearing aid or cochlear implant
  5. Any shrapnel, pellets, bullets, metallic fragments, or other metallic foreign body above the chest
  6. Metallic joints, rods, screws, or other orthopedic implants in or above the chest
  7. Braces, dentures, removable teeth, or dental expanders that cannot be removed.
  8. Body piercings in or above the chest that cannot be removed.
  9. MRI-incompatible Tracheostomy tube or Swan Ganz catheter in place
  10. Status Epilepticus or anyone previously seizing deemed by the physician not to be suitable for pMRI

Where this trial is running

New Haven, Connecticut

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Patient Satisfaction, Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain MRI

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.