Summary of advantages of portable MRI in a pediatric setting. <strong>Legend of Table 1:</strong> Summary of the key clinical, logistical, and patient-centered advantages of portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with conventional MRI in pediatric care settings. The table highlights how portable MRI improves imaging speed, accessibility, safety, and feasibility of point-of-care neuroimaging, particularly for critically ill infants and children in environments such as the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), emergency department (ED), operating room (OR), and resource-limited hospitals.

Table 1: Summary of advantages of portable MRI in a pediatric setting. Legend of Table 1: Summary of the key clinical, logistical, and patient-centered advantages of portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with conventional MRI in pediatric care settings. The table highlights how portable MRI improves imaging speed, accessibility, safety, and feasibility of point-of-care neuroimaging, particularly for critically ill infants and children in environments such as the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), emergency department (ED), operating room (OR), and resource-limited hospitals.

Advantages	Description	Significance
Faster Imaging Time	Produces images within 2 minutes compared to 15-90 minutes for conventional MRI.	Reduces need for sedation in young children.
Less Space Requirement / Portability	The device is compact and wheelable for bedside use in PICUs, EDs, ORs, and outpatient clinics. No need for extensive shielding and cooling systems → no separate room required for MRI imaging.	Enables immediate imaging of critically ill infants and children without moving them to a separate imaging suite.
Lower Cost	Significantly cheaper than traditional MRI scanners.	Makes advanced neuroimaging more accessible in pediatric hospitals, especially in low-resource areas such as the Bronx.
Safer for Patients	Lower magnetic field reduces risks, especially in pediatric patients or individuals with metal implants.	Reduces risk of radiation in pediatric patients with shunts or other metallic devices.
Point-of-Care Imaging	Ideal for bedside imaging of conditions like hydrocephalus.	Supports rapid diagnosis and monitoring of neurological conditions in premature infants and critically ill children.
Reduced Noise & Sedation Requirements	Quieter operation than conventional MRIs, making it less intimidating.	Helps reduce possible anxiety in young children, especially with avoiding sedation.