Development of a Rotatable 1.5 Tesla Whole-body MRI Scanner for Multi-orientation Imaging

Motivation: Historically, MRI engineering has primarily focused on imaging human body in supine position. However, anatomical structure and physiology can vary significantly with body orientation, which may hamper the full potential of traditional MRI when interrogating diseases and physiology. Goal(s): To develop a multi-orientation MRI scanner, and to highlight its potential for advancing clinical MRI utility and physiology research. Approach: We developed the first multi-orientation whole-body 1.5 Tesla MRI system featuring a rotatable cryogen-free superconducting magnet with 85 cm warm bore. Results: Preliminary imaging experiments on volunteers revealed notable differences in anatomy and physiology between supine and standing positions. Impact: The development of a high-performance multi-orientation 1.5 Tesla MRI system enables the examination of human anatomy and physiology under varying gravitational influences. This novel scanner holds significant potential for both basic biomedical research and clinical disease diagnosis.