Damage to the brain, for example due to oxygen deprivation at birth, is often detected with an MRI scanner. In babies at UMC Utrecht and worldwide, we use an MRI scanner with the strength of 3 Tesla or lower for this study. But the stronger the scanner (measured in Tesla) the more doctors can see on the images. Researcher Inge van Ooijen and physician-researcher Kim Annink investigated whether the 7 Tesla MRI at UMC Utrecht is safe for newborn babies. They followed 20 babies who received a standard 3 Tesla MRI scan and a more powerful 7 Tesla MRI scan. They saw no difference in safety with the more powerful 7 Tesla MRI. The study was recently published in Neuroimage Reports.

Method: calculations, simulations and research

MRI is an imaging examination technique that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves. It is safe for adults, but the device produces a loud noise and some extra heat, which is why prior testing was important. Since no MRI study with such a powerful 7 Tesla MRI scanner has ever been done on newborns worldwide before, safety had to be demonstrated first.

The study started with calculations and simulations. Then Inge van Ooijen and Kim Annink investigated the comfort, heart rate, blood oxygenation, breathing and temperature of 20 newborn babies during a normal 3 Tesla MRI scan and then a more powerful 7 Tesla MRI scan. Inge: "Babies sleep during an MRI examination. To protect them from the noise of the devices, they are given double hearing protection. A special sound hood was also made for the 7 Tesla MRI scan to protect hearing. That worked well." Kim: "The children were comfortable, except for one baby, who was hungry after the scan."

Exploring benefits of 7 Tesla MRI

Inge van Ooijen and Kim Annink are curious to see if they can find brain damage even better with the 7 Tesla MRI examination. For example, whether they can see smaller abnormalities or developments related to metabolism. They expect that the 7 Tesla MRI scanner can provide more and clearer information. Based on that data, they hope to be able to better predict a baby's development at an early age. 

Impact for patients

For parents of premature infants or those with difficult starts, it is valuable to give them a realistic picture of possible effects on brain development and thus on later cognitive and social skills. The 7Tesla MRI scan can provide better images of blood vessels and possible small brain abnormalities. When a baby's neurological development is better assessed, parents, caregivers and doctors will be able to respond to it promptly and appropriately in the future.

Exploring benefits of 7 Tesla MRI

Inge van Ooijen and Kim Annink are curious to see if they can find brain damage even better with the 7 Tesla MRI examination. For example, whether they can see smaller abnormalities or developments related to metabolism. They expect that the 7 Tesla MRI scanner can provide more and clearer information. Based on that data, they hope to be able to better predict a baby's development at an early age. 

Impact for patients

For parents of premature infants or those with difficult starts, it is valuable to give them a realistic picture of possible effects on brain development and thus on later cognitive and social skills. The 7Tesla MRI scan can provide better images of blood vessels and possible small brain abnormalities. When a baby's neurological development is better assessed, parents, caregivers and doctors will be able to respond to it promptly and appropriately in the future.