A new kind of MRI, introduced in August 2024, is changing the patient experience at LHSC with a goal of leading to faster scans, shorter waits, and a more comfortable approach to imaging.
Housed in a self-contained unit outside Victoria Hospital and connected by a covered walkway, the Free.Max MRI was delivered by flatbed truck and lifted into place by crane, eliminating the need for traditional renovations. Featuring Canada’s first 80-centimetre-wide opening and powered by artificial intelligence (AI), its lower-strength magnet delivers fast, high-quality imaging for areas like the brain, spine and knee – all with less discomfort for patients who are larger-bodied or experience claustrophobia.
The Free.Max also opens new doors for innovation and research. Eight projects are already underway by LHSC to explore how this technology may enhance clinical imaging, reduce sedation use in paediatric patients, support technologist training through AI, and increase access for those with metallic implants. Teams are also assessing the potential to operate the scanner remotely, a feature that could help reshape how imaging services are delivered across sites and regions.
“You achieve excellent clinical care by continually innovating,” says Dr. Narinder Paul, Department Head, Medical Imaging. “Innovation is part of research, and research is part of clinical care. Our job is to ask questions like: Can we do something safer? Can we do it faster? Can we improve the patient experience?”
This work represents another example of how LHSC is committed to moving forward by investing in technology that removes barriers, serves more patients, and drives meaningful system change.