Empa and TI Solutions develop polymer cables for MRI diagnostics

(CONNECT) Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in St.Gallen and their industry partner TI Solutions, based in Zurich, have developed a special polymer cable for MRI examinations, according to a statement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important diagnostic imaging technique that can be combined with other procedures like brain wave recordings, electrocardiograms, or stimulation of deep brain structures using temporal interference stimulation (TI). Due to the strong magnetic fields and radio waves that MRI uses, the equipment must be free from metallic objects that could cause mechanical destruction or thermal heating, explains Empa. 

The new electrode cable consists of a bundle of polymer fibers coated with a titanium-silver layer less than half a micrometer thick. According to the statement, the innovative cables enable both cardiological and neurological measurements as well as temporal interference stimulation of deep brain layers.

“Our goal was to develop a cable with a very low but precisely defined metallic conductivity,” Dirk Hegemann, research lead at Empa’s Advanced Fibers laboratory, is quoted as saying. “The conductivity must be high enough for the signal to be transmitted, but not as high as to interact with radio waves." Sven Kühn, Head of Research and Development at TI Solutions, added: “With the MRI-compatible cables developed in the Empa lab, our medical research partners now have the opportunity for the first time to visualize the effect of TI in the brain using MRI safely and without interference.”

The company specializes in research in the field of temporal interference stimulation. The development of the new polymer cables was funded by Innosuisse. ce/ww