Edmonton startup develops portable MRI machine to cut wait times for rural patients
MagnetaMR Inc. is building a 550-pound MRI that runs on standard outlets, targeting a cost around 10 per cent of conventional scanners and aiming to reduce months-long provincial wait times.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
An Edmonton startup is building a portable MRI machine designed to address Alberta's chronic wait times by bringing imaging technology to rural communities.
MagnetaMR Inc., developing the prototype in a South Edmonton garage, has created a device weighing around 550 pounds that can plug into a standard electrical outlet—compatible with any wall socket, according to co-founder Shawn Fraser. A conventional MRI scanner is bolted into a dedicated cement room and costs between $1.5 million and $3 million; MagnetaMR's prototype costs about 10 per cent of that.
Alberta MRI wait times currently run from months to years. Many rural patients must travel to cities for appointments. "So we are trying to make MRI accessible to everybody," said Aaron Purchase, MagnetaMR's co-founder and CEO. "Right now they're locked away into centralized radiology facilities."
The prototype uses 3D-printed components and is being supported by the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The next step is a showcase next month, followed by regulatory testing to prove safety before pursuing mass-production funding. Lindsay Gilbert, associate VP of Philanthropy at Alberta Cancer Foundation, called any expansion of MRI access "a complete win," noting that the technology "complements the current system. We still require all the MRIs that we have in our province, and this is just another additional tool that would be available for patients."
Alberta Health Services has stated it is increasing the number of CT and MRI scans to bring wait times down, but a current median wait figure for MRI appointments has not been publicly disclosed.
When is the prototype showcase scheduled, and what will safety testing involve?
What is Alberta's current median MRI wait time, and how much would portable machines reduce it?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much does the MagnetaMR portable MRI cost compared to conventional scanners?
MagnetaMR's prototype costs approximately 10 per cent of a conventional MRI scanner, which ranges from $1.5 million to $3 million.
How heavy is the MagnetaMR portable MRI?
The MagnetaMR device weighs around 550 pounds.
What power source does the MagnetaMR portable MRI require?
The MagnetaMR machine can plug into a standard electrical outlet and is compatible with any wall socket.
