On 29th April 2024

Open-Source MRI Scanner challenges MedTech conventions at Hannover Messe 2024

The open-source MRI scanner OSI² ONE (v1.0.0) was presented at one of the world’s largest industrial trade shows, the Hannovermesse 2024 in Hannover, Germany with about 130.000 visitors this year.

Hosted at the stand of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz, BMWK), this project showcased the power of collaborative technology development to address global challenges in healthcare.

Over 500 individuals engaged in conversations at the open-source scanner, ranging from engineers and students to C-level industry representatives and politicians. Common for all was an overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many expressing gratitude for the existence of a project such as OSI² ONE. More importantly, a notable number expressed further interest in joining and supporting the OSI² community.

From left to right: David Schote (PTB, OSI²), Martin Häuer (PTB, OSI²), the president of the national metrology institute (Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) and the minister for scientific affairs and culture of the local federal state (Falko Mohrs, Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur).
From left to right: David Schote (PTB, OSI²), Martin Häuer (PTB, OSI²), the president of the national metrology institute (Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) and the minister for scientific affairs and culture of the local federal state (Falko Mohrs, Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur). Source: PTB

Representatives from the hosting ministry, such as the Head of the Innovation and Technology Policy Division of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection Ole Janssen or Prof. Cornelia Denz the current president of the PTB, were interested and pleased by the impact of the project.

Beyond visitor’s general curiosity towards open-source medical imaging, we were thrilled to witness interest from non-medical communities to adopt, remix and expand upon the scanner, or modules thereof e.g. for applications in material science.

Lukas Winter (PTB, OSI²) presenting the open-source vision for medical technology with the OSI² ONE project at the BMWK stage of the Hannover Messe 2024
Lukas Winter (PTB, OSI²) presenting the open-source vision for medical technology with the OSI² ONE project at the BMWK stage of the Hannover Messe 2024

Perhaps most inspiring for the OSI² team was the celebration of open-source principles at the stand. Exhibiting a fully functional open-source MRI scanner visibly challenged conventional notions among visitors of what open-source is able to achieve. And as some neighboring stands showcased an array of open-source software and hardware technologies as well (such as openUC2), it became evident that a paradigm shift towards shared progress and cooperation is underway.

This fair may be over, but the development and construction of the next version of the OSI² ONE scanner has already started within the A4IM project, which will include:

  • A fully-characterized reference system for AI-powered image reconstruction
  • A more clinical design
  • Open-source documentation that can be used as a blueprint for regulatory approval as a medical device according to MDR (EU)2017/745

Want to help us in our vision and join the movement? Get in touch with us via matrix.