Intra-Operative Dedicated Breast Magnetic Resonance Scanner

A new type of breast MRI scanner will let surgeons perform biopsies and tissue removal in a single session, without moving the patient in and out of the machine. Current cylindrical MRI scanners force clinicians to pull the patient out of the magnet to access the breast, making real-time guidance of biopsy needles or ablation tools impossible. This means diagnosis and treatment are often separate appointments, stretching the patient’s journey from detection to therapy over days or weeks. The proposed intra-operative scanner, based on an existing proprietary design, will allow clinicians to guide instruments under live MRI images while the patient remains inside the machine. If successful, this system could compress diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment into one outpatient visit. That would shorten waiting times, reduce the number of hospital visits, and lower healthcare costs. As molecular diagnostics improve and detect more early-stage cancers, demand for precise, image-guided localisation and therapy will grow. This scanner is designed to meet that need directly, offering a practical tool for routine clinical use rather than a fundamental science investigation.