Metamaterial manufacturing: A MetaSurface for medical applications

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the optimal technique for diagnosing health problems related to complex internal systems such as the central nervous system, cardio vascular system, and the brain. However MRI scanners are expensive, averaging about £700-800k (1.5 T) and £1.2M (3T). The demand for higher quality images and the volume of MRI scans is steadily increasing over time, putting huge pressure on the NHS who is trying to reduce waiting lists within the existing facility and budget constraints. MediWise Ltd. is developing MetaSurfaceTM, a flat array of thin non-ferrous metal wires embedded in a special metal-dielectric matrix (metamaterial), with high epsilon and (er>100) and low loss (tanD<0.005) ceramics. The device would be conformal to various body parts such as head, knee, hand, or whole body to improve the scan quality both locally and collectively inside the MRI machine. A switch matrix will be used to tune the wire grid during receiving mode (64 MHz for 1.5T), to enhance the electromagnetic field significantly higher without exceeding the safety limit. For an existing 1.5T MRI machine and certain scan setup, MetaSurfaceTM is able to improve the image quality more than five times, while enable up to twenty times faster scans for an equivalent image quality. MetaSurfaceTM improvements will offer health providers, such as the NHS, savings of up to £6m per year whilst increasing access to services. The proposed technology eliminates heat issues associated with high intensity MRI scanners (3T and 7T), offering a new tool for clinical research in the UK and worldwide.