Bengaluru: India has taken a major step towards self reliance in advanced medical technology with the launch of its first fully indigenous MRI scanner. Bengaluru based deep tech startup VoxelGrids, backed by Zoho Corporation, has developed and installed a 1.5 Tesla MRI system that is designed, engineered and manufactured entirely in India.
The achievement marks a turning point for Indian healthcare, which has long depended on imported MRI machines that are costly to buy, install and maintain. With this development, India joins a small group of countries capable of building high end medical imaging equipment from the ground up.
The indigenous MRI scanner is the outcome of nearly 12 years of focused research and development led by VoxelGrids founder Arjun Arunachalam and his team. The project began with the aim of solving a persistent problem faced by Indian hospitals, high cost and limited access to MRI technology.
The first clinical installation of the scanner has been completed at the Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation near Nagpur, where it is now being used for patient diagnostics. This real world deployment signals that the technology is ready for practical healthcare use and not just a laboratory prototype.
One of the most important features of the VoxelGrids MRI scanner is its helium free dry magnet design. Traditional MRI machines rely on liquid helium for cooling, which increases both cost and complexity. By eliminating helium, the new system becomes easier to maintain and more suitable for Indian hospital conditions.
The scanner also consumes less power, has a lighter and more compact structure, and can be installed in facilities that may not support large imported machines. These design choices directly address the challenges faced by smaller hospitals and diagnostic centers across the country.
Cost has been a major barrier to MRI access in India. Imported MRI scanners often cost several crores and come with high annual maintenance expenses. VoxelGrids claims its indigenous MRI can reduce overall costs by nearly 40 percent.
To further lower entry barriers, the company has introduced flexible pay per use and usage based payment models. This allows hospitals to offer MRI services without heavy upfront investment. Over time, this approach could translate into more affordable scans for patients, especially outside major cities.
VoxelGrids has established its manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, with the capacity to produce around 20 to 25 MRI scanners every year. The startup has received about five million dollars in funding from Zoho and plans a wider commercial rollout by the end of the current financial year.
Future plans include developing mobile and container based MRI units that can serve rural and semi urban areas. The company is also exploring export opportunities once domestic demand begins to stabilize.
(Rh/ARC)