UAB Highlands MRI Imaging Center has acquired a new 0.55 T Siemens Freemax Unit, a smaller, more efficient, and greener MRI machine.

UAB is one of the few leading academic institutions which has access to this advanced MRI technology, others being the University of California San Francisco and the University of Michigan. The lower cost to purchase and operate has the potential to expand MRI access to traditionally low resource areas of the state.

This cutting-edge MRI machine leverages artificial intelligence to help increase quality patient care and reduce the environmental footprint of UAB’s imaging services. It provides high-quality imaging results with less energy and less helium, which is significant since healthcare is estimated to be responsible for up to five percent of global emissions.

Although the machine is smaller in overall size, it has a larger than average bore size of 80 centimeters, which allows more access to imaging a variety of patients and will improve access for high BMI and claustrophobic patients. The lower field strength creates less artifact from metal, creating opportunities for improved imaging of patients’ with artificial joints, hardware, and other metal implants.

The unit uses less energy with a larger than average bore size.