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French Researchers Build Massive New Scanner to Tackle Brain Disease

Reuters

   PARIS - French researchers are developing what they say is the most
   powerful Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner in the world which
   will use a supermagnet the weight of a blue whale and should allow
   earlier diagnosis of diseases such as Parkinson's.

   "We can potentially detect the disease in its earlier stages and,
   consequently, monitor it more precisely" Nicolas Boulant the project's
   scientific director, told Reuters.

   MRI, which has been in use for decades, allows physicians to see which
   parts of the brain have been damaged while a patient is still alive.
   The technology uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce
   detailed images.

   The scanner being developed by the French researchers, as part of what
   is called Project Iseult, involves a new supermagnet in a cylinder
   shape which is much heavier than those in use already.

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