M-CUBE - Metamaterial antenna for ultra-high field MRI

BACKGROUND

The clinical use of Ultra High-field (UHF) MRI scanners is drastically limited due to the lack of homogeneity and to the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the Radio Frequency (RF) fields associated with the magnetic resonance.

The major way to tackle and solve these problems consists in increasing the number of active RF antennas, leading to complex and expensive solutions.  Our M-Cube solution relies on innovative systems based on passive metamaterial structures therefor avoiding multiple active elements. These systems are designed to make High-Field MRI diagnostic fully relevant for physicians.

HOW IT WORKS

M-Cube is a real technological breakthrough relying on the development of a new technology for RF MRI antennas based on metamaterial structures. These Metamaterials are chosen to alter the electromagnetic wave in an unconventional manner. Their properties are used to spatially shape the RF fields in order to get rid of RF field heterogeneities.

KEY BENEFITS

Using passive systems allows reducing the number of antennas
Reducing power consumption
Simplifying the electronics
Expected impact on the medical field.
Easy to implement & low cost. Unlike technology providing the best results for UHF MRI : parallel transmission (PTx) which requires to be particularly careful in terms of safety, higher durations of clinical examination and expensive investments (about 1M€ for the specific parallel transmission system)

DEVELOPMENT STATUS

Available pre-industrial prototype

APPLICATIONS

ultra-high field MRI (>7 Tesla) for whole body imaging.