People tomograph acquires new supporters

For the first time round table devoted to discussion of the Open Project "Public MRI scanner", held October 9 2009 in Moscow at the IV-th science Festival, held at Moscow State University. MV Lomonosov Moscow State University. Round-table discussion in the form of the final of the 7th annual international lecture "Magnetic resonance in biology, physics, chemistry and medicine" was organized by educational and scientific center of the magnetic imaging and spectroscopy of Moscow State University (MSU TSMTS).

Leading round table was director of the Institute, "International Tomography Center," SB RAS, Academician RZ Sagdeev. He said the opening address by adopting a project "Public MRI scanner": "In the district hospitals are not required high field scanner. I think the Public MRI scanner will compete at the level low field scanners for district and municipal hospitals. The image quality is high, energy efficiency - also, and the price - low. This is the best option that we could imagine. "

Then a report on the open source project "Public MRI scanner" was presented by Director General of JSC "MTT Control" VI Krutskih. He showed how promising the Public MRI scanner, telling you how to solve the major problems preventing widespread adoption of imaging in Russia. They are:

• price;
• high cost of ownership;
• low energy;
• complexity of maintenance and operation;
• absence of several key technologies in Russia;
• insufficient number of medical diagnosticians and skilled technicians;
• low motivation in business.

According to VI Krutskikh, high prices can be avoided by using inexpensive materials to create a magnetic scanners. Cost of ownership will be significantly reduced if there will be no need to use liquid nitrogen and liquid helium, as well as by reducing power consumption. The picture quality will be at the level due to improvements in electronics and new software. Finally, the lack of qualified medical diagnosticians and technicians can be avoided by creating a single remote diagnostic center and service center.

VI Krutskikh also reported on an already created a prototype of the Public MRI scanner - magnetic resonance imaging "Unitom" and the eponymous site WWW.UNITOM.RU, which has become a platform for discussions of the project and information portal.

The participants then discussed the draft "Public MRI scanner" at the round table. All participants agreed that the People need a scanner Russia. And also made ​​comments and suggestions on its development and thought about his future prospects.

M. Petrusevich, supporting the project said: "In addition to low prices, scanner front edge low field high field primarily in the fact that they would be better and at an earlier stage diagnosis of cancer. In addition, low-floor scanner is more convenient to place additional equipment, heaters or lasers for operetsy under the control of the magnetic scanner. "(More on this see M. Petrusevich "Why need a low-frequency scanner")).

The advantages of low-field magnetic resonance scanner were also identified and RZ Sagdeev, Yu PIROGOV and AA Savelova.

A. Pirogov highlighted another benefit of the Public MRI scanner - its richness of electronics and digital technology: "The refusal of analog technology - an additional benefit." In addition, he showed the crowd he had prepared table comparing images taken in the fields of 0.15 T and 3 T. They were almost the same quality, despite the fact that the field is the prototype of the Public MRI scanner - scanner "Unitom" - 20 times smaller.

A. Ustynyuk concluded: "It seems to me that the dignity of the Public MRI scanner are obvious. So it is necessary to consider how to promote this project. We have every reason to formulate a common view on the Public MRI scanner. "

Such a consensus was formed. It was signed by all participants in the roundtable.

Round table participants (listed alphabetically):

• Anisimov, Nikolay V., Ph.D., Senior Researcher, Center
  magnetic imaging and spectroscopy MSU
• Yuri K. Grishin, Ph.D., senior staff scientist NMR chemical laboratory
  Faculty
• Valery V. Lunin, academician of the Academy of Sciences, Dean of Chemical Faculty of Moscow State University
• Kalabin Gennady Alexandrovich, professor at the University of Friendship of Peoples
• Kataev Eugene A., Ph.D., research scientist
  NMR chemical faculty of Moscow State University and a researcher at University in
  g.Regensburge, Germany
• Kessenikh Alexander, professor, leading researcher of the Institute
  History of Natural Sciences
• Kolyagin Yuri G., Ph.D., researcher at the Department of Physical Chemistry
  Chemical Faculty of Moscow State University
• Krutskikh Valery Ivanovich, Doctor, General Director of JSC "MTT Control"
• Petrusevich Yuri Mikhailovich, Professor, zam.zav. Department of Medical Physics
  Physical Faculty of Moscow State University
• Pirogov Yuri A., Professor, Director, Center
  magnetic imaging and spectroscopy MSU
• Roznyatovsky Vitaly, Ph.D., Senior Scientist NMR Laboratory
  Chemical Faculty of Moscow State University and TSMTS
• Sagdeev Renad Zinnurovich, academician, director of the International Tomography Center
  SB RAS
• Sergeyev, Nicholas M., Ph.D., Professor of Chemical Faculty of Moscow State University
• Torocheshnikov Vladimir, Ph.D., Senior Scientist NMR Laboratory
  Chemical Faculty of Moscow State University, academic secretary of the Scientific Council of Moscow State University TSMTS
• Ustynyuk Yuri, Prof., Head. Lab. NMR chemical
  Faculty
• Yudin, Anna Yu, PhD (Phys. & Math.), Prof. Univ Bordeaux, France
• etc.