Jan. 27, 2026 — Hyperfine has announced results from the largest data set to date evaluating stroke detection with its Swoop portable MRI system. This data provides strong evidence supporting the use of AI-powered portable MRI for stroke detection in multiple clinical settings, including the emergency department.
The prospective multi-center observational study, published in the November issue of Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN), evaluates 95 patients, combining data from the ACTION PMR study at Massachusetts General Hospital and Buffalo General Medical Center, with data from Yale New Haven Hospital. The study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of ischemic lesion detection, comparing both the original and next-generation Swoop system scanners, along with a comparison of two types of DWI sequences, a sequence that is critical for stroke detection.
The advanced multi-directional DWI sequence on the next-generation Swoop system achieved dramatic improvements in diagnostic performance over the original scanner:
- Enhanced Detection of Small Lesions: Successfully identified lesions as small as 2.8 mm (0.15 mL), enabling detection of very small strokes
- Perfect Accuracy for Clinically Relevant Lesions: Achieved 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for lesions greater than 1.0 mL.
- Improved Efficiency: Reduced scan time by approximately 30%, making stroke imaging feasible in time-critical emergency settings
- Superior Image Quality: Demonstrated improved image uniformity across the brain, enhancing diagnostic confidence
“We previously showed that using DWI in combination with FLAIR on the portable MRI system can be used as a 'tissue clock' for stroke detection, similar to conventional MRI. With this study, we took the next step and evaluated the capability of ultra-low-field MRI with advanced, multi-directional DWI sequences to detect very small ischemic lesions,” said Taylor Kimberly, MD, PhD, Chief of the Neurocritical Care Division at Mass General Brigham. “The results show that the next-generation portable MRI system with a multi-directional DWI sequence enables detection of very small strokes in a clinically feasible timeframe. The portable MRI system’s ability to detect clinically relevant strokes opens new possibilities for transforming stroke diagnosis and management—bringing timely evaluation to more patients and care settings than ever before.”
"Stroke detection represents a critical driver of the Swoop system's expansion into emergency departments,” commented Maria Sainz, president and CEO of Hyperfine. “The results from our next-generation Swoop system, combined with our new, advanced multi-direction DWI sequence that was recently cleared by the FDA, are truly remarkable. This data gives us even greater confidence that the Swoop system can reliably detect clinically relevant strokes, streamline workflows, and further strengthen the value of integrating portable MRI into stroke diagnosis and care.”
Hyperfine provided portable MRI systems as part of sponsored research agreements. The company was not involved in the design or analysis of this investigator-initiated study, nor in the publication decision.
For more information about the Swoop® system, please visit HyperfineMRI.com.
September 15, 2026 
