A revolutionary piece of medical history has gone on public display for the first time in decades at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
For the next few months, visitors to ARI will be able to see the world’s first whole-body MRI scanner – the Mark-I – in the hospital’s Suttie Art Space Gallery.
Created in the late 70s by an Aberdeen University team, the Mark I prototype was a gigantic step forward for the world of medicine.
Its first successful use was when the researchers used it on a Fraserburgh man who was battling terminal cancer.
The revolutionary technology allowed the team to analyse his entire body – inside and out – in what was a medical first.
The Mark I was used for a total of three years, and scanned more than 1000 patients, but it was replaced in 1983 by a superior model and has since been kept in storage for decades.
Professor Steve Heys, head of the school of medicine, medical sciences and nutrition at Aberdeen University said: “The Mar-I machine represents the excellence and the way in which the research done here at the university makes a huge difference to people’s lives.
“I’m delighted that the Mark-I machine will be displayed prominently in this manner and hope it will serve as a reminder of the influence our research has had, and inspire current and future generations.”
Organised by the Grampian Health Trust, the exhibition of the Mark-I will soon be joined by an accompanying documentary film telling the history of the scanner, which will be shown in alongside the machine in the gallery.