Eurostars Project FEM-SCAN
Fast and Efficient MRI Scanning for breast cancer detection
FEM-SCAN develops an autonomous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology for breast cancer screening that allows for patient self-scanning. We reach this breakthrough by developing three key innovations:
A local breast gradient coil and matching radiofrequency coil that can achieve high image quality without using contrast agents.
An automated MRI bed that integrates the innovative hardware and automates patient flow.
Software and scanning sequences that silence the scan and eliminate the need for contrast agents.
These innovations are combined into an add-on autonomous breast scanning system which decreases scanning time and removes the need for a specialised technician, revolutionising breast imaging.
Mammography, which is currently used for breast cancer screening, has low sensitivity and is very painful. MRI technology is more sensitive, but is expensive, requires costly and scarce personnel, and uses intravenous contrast agents. Our innovative FEM-SCAN technology autonomizes the MRI scan, eliminates the need for contrast agents, increases patient comfort by silencing the scan, and maintains the high MRI signal quality. Furthermore, our technology for autonomous breast MRI removes the need for specialised technicians, making breast cancer screening with MRI economically attractive. This will increase the precision and comfort of breast cancer screening for millions of women.
FEM-SCAN will solve the problems associated with using MRI as a screening tool through hardware and software innovations that autonomize and silence the scan and eliminate the need for ICAs (see Annex I for a schematic overview). With these innovations, the cost and capacity of MRI reach a level where the use of this superior technology as a breast cancer screening tool is effective and cost efficient.
The main result of the project is an autonomous MRI add-on technology for breast cancer screening to be applied in 3T Philips MRI scanners (with the capability to port to other MRI platforms like Siemens and GE in later phases). This technology will achieve the unprecedented combination of 1) autonomizing the scan, thus removing the need for specialised technicians, 2) eliminating the need for ICAs through hardware and software innovations, 3) increasing patient comfort by silencing the scan, and 4) do all of this while maintaining signal quality.
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