VoxelGrids Unveils India’s First Indigenous MRI Scanner

In a major boost to India’s medical technology ecosystem, Bengaluru-based start-up VoxelGrids has developed the country’s first fully indigenous MRI scanner. The milestone marks a significant step towards reducing India’s heavy dependence on imported diagnostic equipment and strengthening the “Made in India” push in high-end healthcare technology.

Breakthrough in Domestic Medical Imaging

The 1.5-tesla MRI scanner developed by “VoxelGrids” has been deployed at the Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation near “Nagpur”. The system is the outcome of a 12-year effort led by founder “Arjun Arunachalam”, aimed at designing and manufacturing MRI technology entirely within India—an area traditionally dominated by global players.

Cost and Technology Advantages

Unlike conventional MRI machines produced by multinational firms such as “Siemens” and “GE HealthCare”, VoxelGrids’ scanner does not use liquid helium. This innovation reduces manufacturing costs by nearly 40 per cent. The company has also developed compact, energy-efficient electronics around the magnet while retaining standard bore size, significantly lowering power consumption and operating expenses.

Improving Access Through Flexible Models

VoxelGrids plans to offer pay-per-use pricing models, enabling hospitals to pay dynamically rather than bear high upfront capital costs. This approach could be especially beneficial for small and mid-sized hospitals. The move is timely, as India currently has only about 5,000 MRI machines—roughly 3.5 scanners per million people—highlighting a major diagnostic infrastructure gap.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves for medical imaging.
• India relies heavily on imported high-end medical devices.
• Top five OEMs control over 90% of India’s MRI market revenue.
• Reducing liquid helium use lowers MRI operating costs.

Manufacturing Capacity and Future Plans

VoxelGrids currently has the capacity to manufacture 20–25 MRI scanners annually at its “Bengaluru” facility. Backed by $5 million in funding from “Zoho”, the start-up is preparing for a commercial launch by the end of the current financial year. Future plans include mobile, containerised MRI units and potential exports once domestic demand is addressed.