Startup team tests device that would allow for simultaneous imaging

A coin-sized device that would allow clinicians to perform multiple imaging exams simultaneously is currently in testing, Purdue University researchers announced this week.

The gadget—termed the “MR-Link” by the team of Purdue graduate students and professor who developed the device—can reportedly be inserted into an MRI machine, where it records electro-physiological signals and has the ability to perform several imaging scans at the same time. According to a release from Purdue, the MR-Link can discern when to start and stop recording on its own for a more efficient, effective imaging experience.

“The goal of our company is to provide a tool which can help researchers and doctors better understand the different physiologies of the human body,” Ranajay Mandal, a co-founder of the MR-Link startup, said in the release. “The device is very powerful and allows researchers to record, stimulate and image the brain or other organs, all through the MRI system. This way the patient can be monitored for more than one thing at a time and the doctor can obtain much more information all at once.”

Mandal said the team’s solution could soon be the most affordable on the market, costing a few thousand dollars next to conventional devices’ $100,000 to $200,000 price tags. He also said the MR-Link could eliminate the health risks associated with an MRI’s strong magnetic field.

The MR-Link researchers have developed their first working device, the release stated, and are seeking further funding and beta testing before applying for FDA approval.

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