Royal Philips and Imricor Launch Turnkey iMR Lab Solution

In August 2026, Royal Philips and Imricor Medical Systems announced a new Interventional MR (iMR) lab solution for Philips 1.5T MR. This would be represented as the first commercially available configuration that integrates Philips’ 1.5T MRI platform and Imricor's portfolio of iMR systems and consumables for an effective MR-guided workflow for cardiac intervention, without affecting MR Field strength.

Cardiac arrhythmias affect millions globally, and catheter ablation is a common treatment for this. However, these procedures often depend on X-ray fluoroscopy, offering limited visibility of soft tissue and exposing patients to ionizing radiation. On the other hand, MRI offers exceptional visualization of cardiac anatomy and tissue by precise assessment of treatment response and potential therapy gaps.

Ioannis Panagiotelis, PhD, Business Leader, Magnetic Resonance at Philips, also emphasized that in collaboration with Imricor, Philips is introducing an iMR lab solution that significantly expands the role of cardiac MRI from diagnosis to intervention. This new approach allows for more precise therapy guidance, real-time treatment assessment, and identification of therapy gaps, all within a radiation-free environment.

The iMR lab integrates Philips' 1.5T MRI platform with Imricor’s MR-compatible systems, creating a comprehensive solution for MR-guided cardiac interventions. Key features include the Cardiac MR Suite, SmartHeart AI-powered planning, and Imricor's NorthStar® fragmenting system for effective detailed visualization and tracking during procedures.

This turnkey platform simplifies installation for hospitals and supports the integration of MR-guided procedures into clinical practice. The iMR lab solution will be showcased at ESC Congress 2026 and is now available in CE-marked markets and select configurations in the U.S. Further options will be offered pending regulatory approvals.

Impact on the Healthcare Industry

This launch positively impacts the healthcare industry and revolutionizes cardiac ablation by bringing real-time, radiation-free magnetic resonance imaging directly into the interventional procedure lab.

This launch offers a turnkey platform for MR-guided cardiac intervention by bringing together advanced imaging, intelligent workflows, and MR-compatible interventional technologies. This solution is based on Philips’ BlueSeal helium-free MRI technology to track tools and assess lesions as they form, and drives a standard of care for hospitals investing in electrophysiology suites and driving adoption while establishing a scalable foundation for future iMR-guided procedures.

This launch addresses industry limitations, such as reducing radiation exposure by replacing traditional X-ray fluoroscopy, protecting both patients and medical staff from ionizing radiation. It provides soft-tissue clarity with precise anatomical views to find out therapy gaps quickly. It also lowers siting and infrastructure challenges so that hospitals can install systems closer to cardiology departments while maintaining field strength.

Impact on the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Industry

The global magnetic resonance imaging market size is calculated at USD 8.47 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 8.80 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 12.39 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 3.88% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, this launch significantly benefits the magnetic resonance imaging industry by shifting cardiac MRI from a purely diagnostic tool into an active real-time treatment environment for cardiac arrhythmias.

This launch transforms the industry by moving beyond modality boundaries by featuring artificial intelligence-powered cardiac planning and imaging applications, along with Imricor’s NorthStar mapping and guidance system, the Advantage-MR EP Recorder/Stimulator, and the Vision-MR family of electrophysiology catheters. These technologies effectively visualize anatomy, track catheters, and perform electroanatomical mapping within the 1.5T environment.

This also addresses the industry challenges by lowering radiation exposure by replacing traditional X-ray fluoroscopy, protecting patients and clinical staff from harmful ionizing radiation. Resolves soft-tissue blindness and mitigates siting and helium constraints to reduce heavy cryogenic infrastructure risks by providing easier setup closer to active cardiology departments.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips is a leading health technology company headquartered in the Netherlands, mainly prioritizing people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Royal Philips is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, computed tomography, and personal health.

Its major aim is patient- and people-centric innovation that leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers.

About Imricor

Imricor is the first and only company in the world to bring commercially viable and safe iCMR products to the catheter ablation market. Its primary focus is continuous improvement of ablation therapy for patients globally, with consistent growth in this market, lowering radiation exposure for patients and staff, and reducing overall healthcare costs.

It generally offers a product portfolio involving NorthStar, Vision-MR Ablation Catheter 2.0, Vision-MR Diagnostic Catheter, Advantage-MR EP Recorder/ Stimulator, Additional Products, and SSCPs and IFUs to make interventional cardiac procedures better, safer, and radiation-free by replacing traditional X-ray fluoroscopy with real-time magnetic resonance guidance.