Hyperfine launches study to evaluate portable AI-powered MRI in emergency care

Hyperfine evaluating portable AI: ©Andrey -stock.adobe.com

Hyperfine Inc. (Nasdaq: HYPR), a health technology firm known for its portable MRI innovations, has announced the enrollment of the first patients in the PRIME (Portable Rapid Imaging for Medical Emergencies) study. The research, launched at Yale School of Medicine, will assess the impact of Hyperfine’s next-generation AI-powered portable MRI system, Swoop, on emergency department (ED) triage and diagnosis.

“Given many EDs don’t have ready access to MRI, this study could alter paradigms of advanced imaging access and utilization in the ED,” said Charles Wira, associate professor of emergency medicine at Yale University.

The study expands on earlier research, including the ACTION PMR study, which showed the potential of portable MRI in diagnosing strokes. PRIME takes this a step further by enrolling a wider range of emergency department patients and using the newly updated Swoop system, powered by Optive AI software. The advanced software delivers higher-resolution images with sharper anatomical detail, potentially increasing pathology detection at the bedside.

“By evaluating the potential of portable MRI in this real-world setting, this study aims to determine if a portable MRI system can provide diagnostic imaging capabilities that can be quickly integrated into the ED workflow to improve patient care decisions in real time,” said Kevin Sheth, professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the Yale School of Medicine and principal investigator for the study.

The new system addresses several long-standing challenges in emergency care, including long wait times for traditional MRI access, high costs, equipment immobility, and staffing shortages. According to a December 2024 Becker’s Hospital Review article, prolonged ED boarding remains a top concern for hospital administrators, highlighting the need for faster diagnostic tools.

“The Hyperfine portable MRI system could immediately provide ED clinicians and consulting physicians with critical imaging data at the point of care, helping them to make more informed, faster decisions when every second counts,” Wira said.

AI and portability drive innovation in emergency imaging

The PRIME study comes at a pivotal time in the evolution of medical imaging, particularly in emergency care. Traditional MRI machines, while essential for diagnosing brain injuries, strokes, and other acute conditions, are often centralized, immobile, and expensive to operate. Access in the emergency department is often limited, leading to delays that can have serious consequences for patients.

In recent years, the fusion of artificial intelligence and portable diagnostic tools has opened new frontiers. Hyperfine’s Swoop system is at the forefront of this movement, representing the first FDA-cleared portable brain MRI designed to operate at the point of care. The system plugs into a standard wall outlet, can be wheeled to a patient's bedside, and uses AI to enhance imaging clarity and assist clinicians in interpreting results.

Other recent developments in the field include AI-powered CT triage tools, handheld ultrasound devices with deep-learning guidance, and remote diagnostic platforms that allow specialists to consult in real time. These tools share a common goal: improving access to high-quality diagnostics when and where they’re most urgently needed.

In stroke care, for example, time is vital. Studies have shown that reducing diagnostic delays by even minutes can improve outcomes. Portable MRI systems like Swoop, with their faster deployment and AI-enhanced imaging, could shift the standard of care in both urban and rural settings.

The success of the PRIME study could further validate the use of portable imaging in emergency departments and inspire broader adoption across hospital systems. With ongoing innovation and strategic collaborations like the one between Hyperfine and Yale, emergency medicine may be on the cusp of a more agile and responsive diagnostic era.