Removing Radio Interference from Portable MRI Scans
A method to clean up MRI images by using external sensors to detect and subtract outside radio interference, allowing portable scanners to work outside shielded rooms.
Original patent title: “System and method for electromagnetic interference mitigation for portable MRI systems”
A method to clean up MRI images by using external sensors to detect and subtract outside radio interference, allowing portable scanners to work outside shielded rooms. Granted to General Hospital Corp in 2025 with 18 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
Portable MRI machines are sensitive to outside radio noise, like signals from cell phones or power lines, which can ruin an image. This patent describes a system that uses external sensors (like pick-up coils or electrodes) to record this background noise while the MRI is scanning. The system then calculates a mathematical model—a transfer function—to figure out exactly how that noise is affecting the MRI data. By subtracting this interference from the raw scan data, the system produces a clean, usable image even if the scanner is not inside a traditional, heavily shielded hospital room.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover MRI systems that rely solely on physical RF shielding to block interference.
- Does not cover interference correction methods that do not use external detectors placed outside the imaging volume.
- Does not cover hardware-based noise filtering that happens before the data is digitized.
- Does not cover image reconstruction techniques that rely only on internal MRI data without external noise calibration.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system uses the 'dead-time' of the pulse sequence—the brief moments when the machine isn't actively collecting image data—to calibrate the noise model in real-time, allowing the correction to adapt to changing interference environments.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Portable MRI scanners in emergency departments
Bedside imaging in intensive care units
Field-deployable MRI for military or remote medical use
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Traditional MRI machines require massive, expensive, and permanent copper-shielded rooms to block electromagnetic interference. By enabling high-quality imaging in unshielded environments, this technology could bring MRI diagnostics to ambulances, rural clinics, or emergency rooms where space and infrastructure are limited.
Filed
April 26, 2021
Granted
January 7, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
General Hospital Corp (associated with Massachusetts General Hospital) is a leader in this space. Other companies like Hyperfine, which produces portable MRI systems, are actively working on similar challenges related to noise mitigation and image quality in non-traditional clinical settings.
Market impact
This technology supports the transition of MRI from a stationary, facility-bound procedure to a point-of-care service. It addresses a primary barrier to the adoption of low-field, portable MRI systems by reducing the need for costly room modifications.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
Portable MRI machines are sensitive to outside radio noise, like signals from cell phones or power lines, which can ruin an image. This patent describes a system that uses external sensors (like pick-up coils or electrodes) to record this background noise while the MRI is scanning. The system then calculates a mathematical model—a transfer function—to figure out exactly how that noise is affecting the MRI data. By subtracting this interference from the raw scan data, the system produces a clean, usable image even if the scanner is not inside a traditional, heavily shielded hospital room.
The clever bit
The system uses the 'dead-time' of the pulse sequence—the brief moments when the machine isn't actively collecting image data—to calibrate the noise model in real-time, allowing the correction to adapt to changing interference environments.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover MRI systems that rely solely on physical RF shielding to block interference.
- Does not cover interference correction methods that do not use external detectors placed outside the imaging volume.
- Does not cover hardware-based noise filtering that happens before the data is digitized.
- Does not cover image reconstruction techniques that rely only on internal MRI data without external noise calibration.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
12/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$35K – $112K
Midpoint $70K · 14.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
18 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Zimmerman-Cooley, C., Srinivas, S. A., Cauley, S., & Wald, L. L. (2025). Removing Radio Interference from Portable MRI Scans (U.S. Patent No. 12,189,012). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12189012/eva-suit
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Removing Radio Interference from Portable MRI Scans cover?
A method to clean up MRI images by using external sensors to detect and subtract outside radio interference, allowing portable scanners to work outside shielded rooms.
Who owns patent US 12189012?
General Hospital Corp owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 7, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Traditional MRI machines require massive, expensive, and permanent copper-shielded rooms to block electromagnetic interference. By enabling high-quality imaging in unshielded environments, this technology could bring MRI diagnostics to ambulances, rural clinics, or emergency rooms where space and infrastructure are limited.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover MRI systems that rely solely on physical RF shielding to block interference.
Patent monitoring