We are a deep tech company on a quest to change the current status quo

Chipiron develops a new detection system based on quantum detectors called SQUID, cutting-edge low-noise amplification systems, highly engineered magnetic shielding, and new low-field rapid sequences to reach sensitivity thresholds that have never been reached.

This will enable a new paradigm, where magnetic intensity is not the first driver of image quality anymore and where current SNR can be obtained under 10mT.

By doing so, a new generation of MRI devices that are no longer heavy, expensive, or cumbersome will emerge.

Our goal is to release the first light, portable MRI machine working in a clinical environment by the end of 2024.

Our roadmap

Chipiron is building the first ultra-low field MRI machine working on real world applications, with a 3 step technical roadmap:

  • RF detection design

    13 months and 700k€

    This first step consists of building the first working patented RF detection system based on our low-Tc SQUIDs and low-noise electronics integrated into cryogenics.

    We will be looking for the best trade-off between performance and simplicity, particularly regarding the magnitude of the static magnetic field.

    Our detection system will be compared to industry standards, showing the sensitivity improvement, which will drive image quality.

  • ULF MRI proof-of-concept

    20 months and 2M€

    The resulting proper technical specs will allow us to build a robust detection system integrated into the precision mechanics of the machine.

    Once done, we will work on the magnetic shielding, which will be critical in such a low-field-high-sensitivity experiment.

    It will then be integrated together with precision mechanics and cryogenics to build the first-ever patented ultra-low-field MRI machine.

  • Clinical design

    2 years and 10M€

    Our point made, we will now have to build an actual working prototype that can be put in a hospital.

    The whole purpose here is to learn how to convert a captured signal by the detection system into a cleared image that can be read by a radiologist.

    This step will consist in adding the imaging elements to the machine, building the software, fine-tuning it for optimal measurement, and passing through all requirements for clearance.

Having unlimited access to MRI scans would save
millions of lives each year

 Join us and help us change the status quo

Our resources

  • A general introduction to the use of SQUIDs in medical technology (Clark, 2011)

  • Review of the state of research on SQUID-based MRI (Saraccanie & Salameh, 2020)

  • Superconducting quantum interference device instruments and applications (Fagaly, 2006)

  • Effect of magnetic field fluctuation on ultra-low field MRI measurements in the unshielded laboratory environment (Liu et al., 2015)

  • Fast Quantitative Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging With OPTIMUM and Accelerated Acquisition Schedules (Saraccanie, 2021)

  • SQUID-Detected MRI at 132 ’T with T1-Weighted Contrast Established at 10 ’T–300 mT (Lee et al., 2005)