The magnetic resonance imaging, aka MRI, scanner is a seemingly magical device that lets us peer inside the human body. However, it’s sometimes difficult to obtain an image resolution good enough to identify a specific condition. A recent Medgadget article covered a new device that enhances brain images collected by MRIs, which could expand the accessibility of brain scans to remote or developing regions or the world.
The unique-looking helmet was developed by engineers and radiologists at Boston University. It consists of 3D-printed plastic tubes wrapped in copper wire and of an array of unit cells called resonators that influence sound and electromagnetic waves. In this case, they affect the magnetic field of the MRI machine within the brain to produce higher resolution images, while also reducing the duration of the scan.
