Medtech company wants to help hospitals open radiation-free interventional MR labs

August 5, 2026 - 03:35

Minneapolis-based Imricor Medical Systems is asking hospital leaders to rethink the way they do business. The company, which makes catheters and imaging software for cardiac procedures, wants to help hospitals open interventional labs that rely entirely on magnetic resonance imaging instead of X-ray fluoroscopy. That means no radiation exposure for patients or staff during heart ablations and similar procedures.

Imricor argues that the traditional cath lab model is outdated. Fluoroscopy guides doctors using continuous X-rays, which exposes everyone in the room to ionizing radiation. Over a career, that adds up for cardiologists and nurses. MRI, on the other hand, offers high-resolution soft tissue imaging without any radiation. It also lets doctors see the heart in real time with better contrast than X-ray.

The company is not just selling a scanner. It provides a full package: MRI-safe catheters, a real-time imaging platform, and workflow training. The goal is to make the transition smooth for hospitals that want to offer this option. Imricor says the upfront cost is higher than a traditional lab, but the long-term savings come from fewer staff health risks and better patient outcomes. Fewer repeat procedures are needed because doctors can see the target tissue more clearly during the operation.

Hospitals have been slow to adopt this technology, partly because MRI machines are expensive and require special room shielding. But Imricor is betting that growing concern over occupational radiation exposure will push more institutions to make the switch. The company has already worked with several European centers and is now turning its attention to the U.S. market. It is not asking every hospital to tear down its cath lab tomorrow. Instead, it wants to start with a few early adopters who can prove the model works and then let the results speak for themselves.