Acousto Electromagnetic Medical Imaging Rivals MRI - Isis Project No 3389

A three-dimensional high quality imaging system that is non-ionising and achieves resolution and contrast similar to that of an MRI but at the price of an Ultrasound.

Marketing Opportunity

The Oxford invention can be applied to investigate lesions in human tissues and organs, and potentially has non-medical applications. According to a recent BCC Research report, the global market for medical imaging equipment is growing rapidly and in the US alone it will be worth $11.4 billion by 2012.

The Oxford Invention

A multitude of medical imaging systems are being used as a diagnostic tool to assist clinicians in their decision-making.  However, established and widely used conventional imaging modalities present different advantages and limitations. An MRI system is extremely expensive; CT scans are ionising in nature;

The preliminary experimental data obtained for a target sample shows sidebands (Doppler components) along with the central component. These sidebands carry useful information and can be digitally processed to build a high quality image of the target under investigation.

Ultrawideband Electromagnetic images are low in resolution; and Ultrasound images are relatively noisy. 

The Oxford new imaging methodology involves integrating ultrasound and electromagnetic waves in a manner that provides a resultant MRI quality image, but at significantly reduced cost, as it does not require expensive superconducting magnets. The Oxford imaging system has several advantages including:

• Reduces hardware complexity and scan time
• Improves imaging efficiency and patient comfort
• Offers non-ionizing environment

A demonstrator for the proposed imaging system has been built and a simple proof of concept has been obtained using this technique. A scanning prototype is being built.

Patent Status

This work is the subject of a UK patent application, and Isis would like to talk to companies interested in commercialising this opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager to discuss this further.

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