Esaote Reveals I-Genius Intraoperative MRI for Neurosurgery

Esaote, an Italian medical imaging company, has revealed I-Genius, an open MRI system to provide real-time checks during glioma surgery. I-Genius was introduced during the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) Congress this week.

I-Genius was developed by the company’s research and development labs together with leading neurosurgeons to meet critical needs in brain tumor operations. Surgery aims to remove as much tumor as possible, but when tumor tissue is difficult to distinguish from healthy brain tissue by the naked eye, there’s high risk of residual disease.

Imaging techniques are used to identify residual tumor, but once the meninges are opened, and especially during tissue removal, the brain shifts. That shift causes loss of spatial coherence between pre-op and intra-op imaging, which increases the chance that parts of the tumor are left behind.

Ultrasound and CT are used intraoperatively but ultrasound has limited field of view, and CT involves repeated ionizing radiation—MRI avoids both limitations. Current intraoperative MRI systems are mostly closed-magnet devices that are expensive to install and maintain, and very complex to be used during a surgery operation, either increasing the surgery time or exposing the patient to further risks.

I-Genius is an open MRI system that’s been optimized for use in neurosurgery. It features a special surgical table and accessories that were designed to be safe and compatible with use of MRI. The patient remains on the same table for the whole procedure and doesn’t need to be moved during the operation.

This allows MRI image acquisition during surgery in a short time so surgeons can confirm the tumor was fully removed before closing the skull. According to the company, the setup reduces complexity, shortens procedural time, and lowers the risk of another surgery.

“I-Genius marks a significant milestone for Esaote,” said Franco Fontana, CEO of Esaote. “It is the result of a strategy built on technological innovation, applied research, and close collaboration with the clinical community. With this system, we are entering the intraoperative MRI field with a solution that is both accessible and sustainable—bringing great value to daily neurosurgical practice and contributing to improve the quality of life of patients.”

Last month, the company earned U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its MyLab A50 and MyLab A70 ultrasound systems.