Yale begins study on portable MRI for emergency department triage

GUILFORD, Conn. - Hyperfine, Inc. (NASDAQ:HYPR), a medical technology company with a current market capitalization of $79.4 million and a "Good" financial health rating according to InvestingPro, announced the enrollment of first patients in the PRIME (Portable Rapid Imaging for Medical Emergencies) study, which aims to evaluate the potential of AI-powered portable MRI technology as a triage tool in emergency department settings.

The study at Yale School of Medicine will assess the clinical and operational impact of portable MRI across diverse patient types in emergency departments. Unlike the previous ACTION PMR study that focused on stroke patients, PRIME will include a broader range of patients with various brain-related emergency conditions. With $11.73 million in revenue over the last twelve months and holding more cash than debt on its balance sheet, the company appears positioned to support this research initiative.

The research utilizes Hyperfine’s next-generation Swoop system with Optive AI software, which provides enhanced image quality with sharper anatomical detail. This is expected to enable greater pathology detection compared to earlier versions of the technology.

"By evaluating the potential of portable MRI in this real-world setting, this study aims to determine if a portable MRI system can provide diagnostic imaging capabilities that can be quickly integrated into the ED workflow to improve patient care decisions in real time," said Dr. Kevin Sheth, Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Yale School of Medicine and principal investigator for the study.

Dr. Charles Wira, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Yale University, noted that many emergency departments lack ready access to MRI. The portable system could provide immediate imaging data at the point of care, potentially helping clinicians make faster, more informed decisions.

The study represents part of Hyperfine’s strategy to demonstrate how portable MRI systems in emergency departments can improve diagnostic access and clinical workflows at the point of care.

The Swoop Portable MR Imaging System is FDA-cleared for brain imaging of patients of all ages, according to the company’s press release statement. With the company’s next earnings report due on August 7, investors can access comprehensive analysis and additional insights through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports, which provide deep-dive analysis of over 1,400 US stocks, including Hyperfine’s financial health metrics, valuation analysis, and growth prospects.

In other recent news, Hyperfine, Inc. reported promising interim results from its CARE PMR study, highlighting the effectiveness of its Swoop® portable MRI system. The system achieved 100% sensitivity in detecting ARIA-E, a side effect in Alzheimer’s patients undergoing Lecanemab therapy, as presented at the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. This study involved 31 patients who were scanned using both the Swoop system and traditional high-field MRI. Additionally, Hyperfine has rolled out its Optive AI™ software upgrade for the Swoop® system, which has received FDA clearance. This upgrade enhances brain imaging by improving noise cancellation and image clarity. Furthermore, Hyperfine announced the first commercial sales of its next-generation Swoop MRI systems to two hospitals in the northeastern United States. These systems, equipped with the Optive AI software, are intended for use in intensive care units and emergency departments. The company recently received FDA clearance for this next-gen portable MRI scanner, which promises superior image quality and faster acquisition times.

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