Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, hailed as the ‘crown jewel of cutting-edge medical equipment’, have significant implications for the imaging diagnosis of various major diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurological, and tumorous conditions. Recently, this technology, which has been blocked by foreign entities for many years, has made a breakthrough in China. The MRI machines independently developed by China have been successfully developed and have started mass production.
According to a CCTV report, the MRI machines independently developed by China are being manufactured on the production line at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. After a series of complex and precise processes, they will appear in the examination rooms of hospitals.
Zhang Hui, deputy director of medical imaging at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, said that the image quality of domestically produced MRI machines is not inferior to that of advanced international MRI machine manufacturers, and the price will be significantly lower. “The cost of medical examinations in our hospital is gradually decreasing compared to before, which means that our vast population will spend less when seeking medical care.”
Currently, the independently developed MRI machine from China has been put into operation at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. The operating status of the machine will be transmitted in real time to the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 kilometers away.
It is reported that this machine can obtain whole-body images of the human body. It not only has a higher resolution but also speeds up the imaging speed. Li Yan, deputy director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained that previous MRI imaging was like taking photos, one at a time, and the image would blur if the patient moved. “Now that we have fast imaging technology, we are not afraid of tissue movement; we can see the process of it moving.”
In addition to achieving a significant breakthrough in MRI imaging diagnostic equipment, the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has also developed non-invasive ultrasonic elastic imaging technology that can provide early screening for liver and breast diseases. The major instrument they have developed for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease, the ultrasonic neuromodulation device, has also begun clinical trials.