The FDA has given the green light to NextMR, which reconstructs the bones of the lumbar spine in 3D using a single MRI scan

The MRI2CT software produces a CT-style bone image from a standard MRI scan in less than a minute, without exposing the patient to additional X-rays.

On October 7, MRI2CT obtained a 510(k) clearance from the US Drug Administration for NextMR, an AI platform that generates a three-dimensional bone visualization of the lumbar spine and sacrum directly from a conventional diagnostic MRI. Until now, spine surgeons often request a CT scan in addition to the MRI to see the bone well, which involves irradiation, an appointment and an additional examination.

Less than a minute, in the cloud

NextMR works with common MRI sequences, on 1.5 and 3 Tesla devices, and delivers its result in less than 60 seconds, searchable in sagittal, coronal and axial sections as well as 3D reconstruction. The service is hosted in the cloud and does not require any local installation.

The validation involved 145 adults with both MRI and CT scans, in American and Israeli centers, with submillimeter precision in the delineation of the bone cortex, according to the company. Its CEO, Shmulik Shpiro, sees it as a way to move to MRI-based spinal care, from diagnosis to surgical planning.