New Delhi: Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, sign MoU for collaborative research on medical devices on the 32nd Foundation Day of the Department of NMR, AIIMS, New Delhi.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between SAMEER and AIIMS, New Delhi to enable both institutions work collaboratively to develop High field/low field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) / Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) systems and promote research in Radio Frequency, RF, microwave systems and allied areas for the Medical Applications.

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The MOU encompasses five key areas:

1. Collaborative Research in Medical Devices Development

2. Clinical Validation of Indigenous 1.5 T MRI System developed by SAMEER, Mumbai

3. Collaborative Research in AI/ML for Image Enhancement and Accelerated Imaging

4. Design and Development of Subsystems of High/Low Field MRI Scanner

5. Development of RF Subsystems for High Field Animal MRI Scanners

India’s Self-Reliance in MRI Technology Strengthened

Indigenous Magnetic Resonance Imaging (IMRI) – A National Mission, sponsored by MeitY is being implemented at SAMEER, Mumbai as nodal agency and C-DAC (Trivandrum), C-DAC (Kolkata), IUAC (New Delhi), DSI-MIRC (Bangalore) as collaborating agencies with the objective to design, develop and test an indigenous 1.5 Tesla MRI system for medical imaging.

Against the objective, subsystems development and testing of RF Power Amplifier, High power T/R switch, RF spectrometer, RF Coils, Rx. Front ends, control unit, couch, IMRI software have been completed and integrated with procured magnet, gradient coil and gradient amplifier. Animal trials have been concluded. Development of indigenous 1.5 Tesla magnet including superconducting components, quench protection system, helium cryostat, Magnet Ramping Unit, Emergency Run Down Unit, fast Data Acquisition unit and other control electronics, etc. have been developed and magnet is ramped up to 1.5 Tesla. The final cryotesting is underway and soon it will be integrated with rest of the indigenous hardware and software.

Through an EoI process, 7 companies have been engaged to take developments further. At this juncture, the MoU with AIIMS will facilitate conducting clinical validation and serves as catalyst in India’s journey of becoming self-reliant in MRI technologies.

Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi, on the occasion highlighted the importance of showcasing country’s capabilities, need for clinicians to work closely with Scientists to develop more and better medical devices and offered support from AIIMS.

Smt. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator R&D, MeitY in her remarks stressed upon co-creation so as to India takes a bigleap in developing frugal and indigenous health solutions including medical devices to not just meet domestic demand but also to serve next billion.

Shri Abhishek Singh, IAS, Additional Secretary, MeitY in his inaugural remarks informed that the partnership will enable medical device ecosystem in the country. He shared the country’s preparedness on embracing AI and AI Mission details with focus on healthcare. He endorsed SAMEER’s capabilities and potential to develop indigenous medical devices partnering with AIIMS.

Dr. PH Rao, Director General, SAMEER shared the detailed research activities undertaken at SAMEER with the special focus on medical devices and shared the developments in detail such as MRI, LINAC, X-ray based blood irradiator etc. and endorsed the crucial role of clinicians in development of medical devices.

The MoU was signed in the august presence of Shri Abhishek Singh, AS, MeitY, Smt. Sunita Verma, GC & Sci G, MeitY, Shri Rajesh Harsh, Programme Director, SAMEER, Shri Jay Verdhan Tiwari, Sci E, MeitY and Prof. Rama Jayasundar, HoD, Department of NMR, AIIMS, New Delhi and other dignitaries.

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