The medical technique of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is barely available in developing countries because of its high cost and the strong requirements on infrastructure. To address this problem...Show moreThe medical technique of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is barely available in developing countries because of its high cost and the strong requirements on infrastructure. To address this problem, we are developing a permanent magnet-based head scanner that is affordable (<50,000 EUR) and portable. Here, we report on the first observations of magnetic resonance in our custom magnet array with a field strength of 59 mT. Using custom made volume coils, we observe using Hahn echo (Spin echo) and CPMG pulse sequences. We discuss the step towards 2D imaging using rotating spatially encoding magnetic fields (rSEMs) and show simulations that indicate this is feasible in our setup. Finally, we discuss the technical challenges that still have to be overcome to turn this prototype into a diagnostic device for those in need.Show less
