# 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. - **Patent:** US 12189012 - **Original title:** System and method for electromagnetic interference mitigation for portable MRI systems - **Owner:** General Hospital Corp - **Granted:** 2025 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, medical_devices, telecommunications ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Portable MRI scanners in emergency departments 2. Bedside imaging in intensive care units 3. Field-deployable MRI for military or remote medical use ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12189012/eva-suit **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12189012 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. 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