AIIMS and SAMEER sign a MoU to advance India's self-reliance in MRI technology, focusing on AI-driven imaging and the clinical validation of a 1.5 Tesla MRI system.

AIIMS and the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER) inked a major Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to work together on the creation of cutting-edge medical equipment. The collaboration seeks to promote developments in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-field and low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies. In order to improve medical applications and promote innovation in the healthcare industry, the partnership will also concentrate on research in radio frequency (RF) and microwave technologies. On the occasion of the Department of NMR's 32nd Foundation Day at AIIMS, New Delhi, the Memorandum of Understanding was inked.

A variety of research and development initiatives are described in the MoU. The joint development of medical equipment, with a focus on clinical validation of the domestic 1.5 Tesla MRI system created by SAMEER, Mumbai, would be one of the main areas of attention. The two organizations will also investigate how machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) may improve images and speed up imaging. The agreement also covers the design and development of RF subsystems for high-field animal MRI scanners and subsystems for both low-field and high-field MRI scanners.

This partnership advances India's objective of being self-sufficient in MRI technology. Supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), SAMEER, Mumbai, has been leading the Indigenous Magnetic Resonance Imaging (IMRI) initiative. The project, which involves cooperation from institutions including C-DAC (Trivandrum and Kolkata), IUAC (New Delhi), and DSI-MIRC (Bangalore), intends to design, build, and test an indigenous 1.5 Tesla MRI system for medical imaging.

The development and integration of vital subsystems, including RF Power Amplifiers, High Power T/R Switches, RF Spectrometers, RF Coils, Rx. Front Ends, control units, and specialized software, are important advancements in this national effort. The 1.5 Tesla magnets, with their superconducting parts, quench prevention system, and related control electronics, have been scaled up to 1.5 Tesla following successful completion of animal experiments. The integration of the entire system is imminent, and final cryotesting is presently under progress.