AIIMS Delhi Introduces Hyperfine Swoop System, India’s First Portable MRI for Bedside Brain Imaging

The system’s clinical applications include stroke management, emergency trauma assessment, continuous neurological monitoring in ICUs, pediatric imaging, and post-operative neurosurgical care.

AIIMS New Delhi has introduced the Hyperfine Swoop System, establishing India’s first routine use of portable MRI for bedside brain imaging and enabling clinicians to capture diagnostic images directly at the point of care for critically ill patients.

The Swoop System, developed by Hyperfine, headquartered in the US, offers an ultra-low-field, portable MRI solution that can be wheeled to the patient’s bedside. It eliminates the need for specialized rooms or complex installation, allowing imaging to be performed in diverse clinical environments, including ICUs, emergency departments, and neurosurgical wards.

The deployment follows regulatory clearance in India and has been facilitated through a partnership with Radiosurgery Global, the exclusive distributor of the technology in the country.

At AIIMS New Delhi, the system is being used under the leadership of Dr Shailesh Gaikwad at the Centre for Neurological Conditions.

“At AIIMS, we manage thousands of stroke and ICU patients annually, where rapid neuroimaging is essential—yet transport to conventional MRI is often unsafe or impossible. The Swoop® system eliminates that barrier. Now our clinicians can obtain diagnostic images at the point of care, enabling faster decision-making in neurology, trauma, and critical care,” he said.

“For a medical institution like ours that serves as a referral center across India, this deployment signals what's possible when technology and clinical need align to advance neurological care,” he added.

“Bringing the Swoop® system to AIIMS New Delhi is an important milestone following regulatory approval last December. India has a significant unmet need for accessible brain imaging. Deployment at the country’s leading institution signals the start of bringing point-of-care brain MRI to sites of care and institutions across India, where it can serve clinicians and their patients across neurological conditions,” said Maria Sainz, President and CEO of Hyperfine.

The system’s clinical applications extend across multiple areas, including stroke management, emergency trauma assessment, continuous neurological monitoring in ICUs, pediatric imaging, and post-operative neurosurgical care. It also has potential use in outpatient and community settings, supporting early screening and referral pathways.

Beyond clinical care, the introduction of the Hyperfine Swoop System at AIIMS Delhi is expected to support research and evidence generation in portable MRI applications.

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