IBM makes MRI scans 100 million times better

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IBM on Tuesday said it has enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology 100-million-fold, paving the way to one day see what is going on at molecular levels in people’s bodies.

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IBM researchers working with the Center for Probing the Nanoscale at Stanford University in California have created a microscope that, with further development, could give 3D images of proteins.

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“This technology stands to revolutionize the way we look at viruses, bacteria, proteins, and other biological elements,” said Mark Dean, vice president of strategy and operations for IBM Research.

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The microscope takes advantage of “magnetic resonance force microscopy” (MRFM) that detects miniscule amounts of magnetism.

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The imaging technique can peer below surfaces of cells without damaging organic material, according to IBM.

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The technique was used on a tobacco mosaic virus measuring just 18 nanometers across and achieved resolution down to four nanometers. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.

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“MRI is well known as a powerful tool for medical imaging, but its capability for microscopy has always been very limited,” said IBM Research manner of nanoscale studies Dan Rugar.

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“Our hope is that nano MRI will eventually allow us to directly image the internal structure of individual protein molecules and molecular complexes, which is key to understanding biological function.”

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