Hyperfine, Inc. Partnerships

The ability to monitor early brain development plays a pivotal role in treating and minimizing the neurological damage incurred by malnutrition in children from low- and medium-income countries. According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of all deaths in children under five years old are linked to nutrition-related factors. Malnutrition also contributes to long-term impacts on impoverished communities, such as education disparity, especially among females. With funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hyperfine, Inc. is working to break this vicious cycle in the developing world.

The utilization of MRI technology to assess early brain development in children is critical to better understanding how to diagnose and manage birth asphyxia, sepsis, encephalitis, and meningitis, among many other neurological diseases and conditions. Swoop systems are being deployed across multiple research and clinical study sites in Europe, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is to better understand the utility and applicability of low-field MR imaging to deliver accessible neuroimages that could provide an opportunity for early therapeutic intervention and potentially become the standard of care for infants and children during critical developmental stages.

Hydrocephalus is a chronic neurological condition caused by an abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation within brain cavities called ventricles, resulting in pressure on the brain. Hydrocephalus affects over one million Americans, ranging from infants and older children to adults and seniors. There is currently no cure, but it can be treatable.

The Hydrocephalus Association (HA) strives to find a cure for hydrocephalus and improve the lives of those impacted by the condition. HA seeks to educate patients and parents about new technology in brain imaging options that are free from radiation doses, such as the point-of-care Swoop^_® Portable MR Imaging^_® system. Educating patients and parents empowers them to advocate for these options with their care providers and hospitals. Hydrocephalus Association President and CEO Diana Gray shared her enthusiasm about the Swoop system stating, “We are always excited to witness progress in the care and treatment of hydrocephalus. The capacity to provide a faster, fully accessible MRI free from harmful radiation is invaluable and will transform the pathway to diagnosis and treatment.”