This Thursday, October 7, 2021 was a great day for science. And for good reason, the most powerful MRI in the world has unveiled its first images. If, for the time being, these are images of pumpkins, the purpose of the machine is to study the structure of the brain. In addition, MRI should make it possible to achieve important advances in fundamental research, in cognitive sciences and in the knowledge of cerebral pathologies.
World’s most powerful MRI unveils its first images of a pumpkin
‘Iseult’ is the name of the most powerful MRI in the world which unveiled its first images this Thursday, October 7 and they are of unparalleled precision. Developed by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) as part of the Iseult project, it is the culmination of more than 20 years of research. The nominal magnetic field generated by the magnet of this MRI reaches a resolution of 400 microns in three dimensions, a record magnetic field.
Lionel Quettier, engineer and project manager for the magnet part of MRI, explains: “ When you have a magnetic field, you speak in Tesla. In MRIs that are found in all hospitals today, it is between 1.5 and 3 Tesla. There, we will multiply the field level by four, to 11.7 teslas. So we push back as much as possible what is possible today “. According to him, it is a ” technological prowess, because we have pushed different techniques and materials to their limits, but also developed new calculation technologies To produce images.
A technological feat that will be used for research on the brain and its functioning
If for the moment, the first images revealed by the ‘Iseult’ MRI are those of a pumpkin, the ultimate goal is for it to be used in the service of research on the brain. Indeed, the latter should make it possible to better understand the anatomy of the brain and its functioning during cognitive tasks, or in the face of neurodegenerative pathologies such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s or even in the face of psychiatric disorders (such as bi-polar disorders ) or vascular.
By obtaining images of the brain 10 times more precise than those produced to date, with a resolution of less than two-tenths of a millimeter, MRI should make it possible to see ” these brain damage at an earlier stage, to understand how these diseases will start And therefore find new treatments. In the meantime, scientists have yet to make adjustments, integrate new instruments and obtain authorization from health authorities before MRI is used on humans.
Discover the first images of the world’s most powerful MRI on the website of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).
