Low-field and portable MRI technology: advancements and innovations

作者：Dmitrij Kravchenko, Muhammad Taha Hagar, Milán Vecsey-Nagy, Ildiko M. Kabat, Anne Groteklaes, Julian Alexander Luetkens, Daniel L. R. Kuetting, Alexander Isaak, Tilman Emrich, Ákos Varga‐Szemes, Maria Vittoria Spampinato · 发表于：European Radiology Experimental · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s41747-025-00638-2 · 被引用次数：15 · 研究领域：Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications、Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research、Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications

Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hardware and software have renewed interest in low-field MRI, challenging the long-held notion that such systems are inherently inferior to high-field counterparts. Traditionally dismissed due to lower signal-to-noise ratios and reduced image quality, low-field MRI was primarily relegated to cost-sensitive or resource-limited settings. However, modern low-field systems now integrate advanced reconstruction algorithms, refined imaging techniques, and improved hardware design, significantly narrowing the performance gap. In some scenarios, these systems offer distinct advantages, such as reduced susceptibility artifacts and improved safety of metallic implants. Their portability, lower operational costs, and reduced infrastructure demands make them especially valuable in point-of-care, remote, or intraoperative environments. This review examines the physical principles of low-field MRI, traces its technological evolution, and evaluates its current and emerging clinical applications. By highlighting both its strengths and limitations, we aim to clarify the growing role of low-field MRI in contemporary diagnostic imaging and underscore its potential in expanding global access to high-quality radiological care. RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Low-field and portable MRI systems offer a cost-effective, accessible, and safer imaging alternative that may expand diagnostic capabilities in underserved, point-of-care, and intraoperative settings, ...