Researchers develop faster MRI scans for heart disease patients

Researchers at Lausanne University Hospital published a study in June 2026 showing that a new type of MRI scan can examine the hearts of patients with congenital heart disease much more quickly than before. The technique, called five-dimensional MRI, captures detailed images of the whole heart in a single session, covering both its structure and how it moves. Standard MRI appointments for these patients often last 45 minutes or longer. The new method produces images of similar quality in considerably less time. However, processing the data currently takes more than eight hours, which prevents hospitals from using it routinely. Scientists are working on artificial intelligence tools to speed up this step. The research was led by Christopher W. Roy and appeared in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.