Aspect and Bruker BioSpin collaborate to develop a new high performance desktop preclinical MRI system

At the 2009 World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC) in Montreal, Aspect Magnet Technologies and Bruker BioSpin, a division of Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR), today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a high performance desktop preclinical MRI system. The new MRI scanner will benefit from the combination of Aspect’s innovative 1 Tesla (T) permanent magnet system and Bruker BioSpin’s high-performance MRI spectrometer technology and its routine preclinical software package.

The new system is expected to enable scientists to explore new fields of preclinical MRI research, such as hyperpolarization, functional applications and contrast agent imaging, all supported by high-resolution MRI morphology imaging. Both companies will evaluate the potential new markets and their technological and applications requirements.

Uri Rapoport, Aspect’s CEO, stated: ”Aspect sees the collaboration with Bruker BioSpin as a major step forward for Aspect, and a recognition of Aspect’s breakthrough technology. I’m sure that there is a very large potential for introducing a 1T permanent magnet MRI system in the fields of contrast agent usage and development of hyperpolarization applications. The intended collaboration between Aspect and Bruker will yield very innovative and productive solutions.”

Dr. Wulf-Ingo Jung, Managing Director of Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH, commented: “High performance desktop MRI systems have the potential to deliver new research applications to the field of preclinical and molecular imaging. The planned combined system is aimed at easy, routine MRI workflow with a compact footprint, low running costs, no magnetic stray fields outside the magnet, and remarkable push-button imaging performance, based on the latest Bruker spectrometer and software technology, in order to enable new research groups to enter this fascinating field of MRI.”