Fischer Medical subsidiary launches low-field MRI for aneurysm screening

Time Medical International Ventures (India) Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fischer Medical Ventures Limited, announced the launch of VEGA, a new low-field TOF MRI system. This platform is specifically engineered for rapid, non-contrast TOF angiographic screening of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and was developed in collaboration with neurosurgeon Dr. Iype Cherian.

The VEGA system uses a permanent-magnet low-field design, eliminating the need for helium and significantly reducing power consumption and maintenance. It produces high-quality vascular imaging within six minutes, without radiation or contrast, making it suitable for deployment in district hospitals, semi-urban clinics, and mobile diagnostic units. Artificial intelligence models are integrated to detect aneurysms on TOF scans with over 95% sensitivity, facilitating large-scale screening.

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms affect approximately 3.2% of adults globally, translating to nearly 30 million people in India. Early detection is crucial, as ruptured aneurysms result in 26-45% mortality. This new platform aims to address India's substantial opportunity for neurovascular screening, with an estimated 700 million people over 40 years old.