Cutting Edge Superconductors is producing MgB2 bulk samples, powders, wires and tapes for the next generation cryogen-free 1.5T MRI based on our patented technology. This next generation MRI is designed to reduce the patient's MRI scan cost by about 40%, significantly enhancing public health services. We are in the process of establishing a manufacturing facility of MgB2 wires in Puerto Rico, which could create high tech jobs for the community.

The primary customer is MRI companies, such as GE HealthCare [GE support letter] and ASG Superconductors, and potential customers including Siemens, Phillips, Toshiba, Hitachi. NMR manufacturing companies, such as Bruker and Jeol, are also potential customers, because NMR has the same helium shortage issues. In particular, Bruker wants to test our long length MgB2 wires for their NMR, in order to replace the current NbTi wires by our MgB2 wires.

The end user (the patients/insurance companies) have the opportunity to see the benefits of lower cost MRI imaging.

1. A global leader in Next Generation Cryogen-free 1.5T MRI
2. Patented technology registered in 7 countries: US, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, China, and Korea
3. Frost and Sullivan North America Innovation Leadership Award for MRI Technology
4. Experienced management team in Science, Technology, and Industry
5. Collaborating with major MRI companies and Superconducting wire companies to bring Cryogen-free 1.5T MRI to market

• EnterPrize Business Plan competition – 1st Prize by Guayacan Group, $25,000, Dec. 2011.
• InnoVenture Technology based Business Plan Competition – 2nd Prize by PR SBTDC, $15,000, June 2012.
• Frost and Sullivan North America Innovation Leadership Award, Dec. 2013
• NSF SBIR Phase I and Phase IB Awards, $180,000 for manufacturing MgB2 wires for cryogen-free 1.5T MRI in collaboration with LUVATA and GE Global Research, Matching funds from PR Science Trust, $210,000, June 2013 - June 2014.
• NSF Innovation Corps Award for conductive polymeric material, $50,000, PI: Dr. Yong-Jihn Kim, June, 2016.
• Small Business Innovation Incentive from Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) in collaboration with LUVATA and GE Global Research, $50,000, March, 2019 - March, 2023.
• Job Creation Incentive and Equipment Purchase Incentive from Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce, $80,000, March, 2023.

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Liquid helium is a cryogenic liquid for the operation of MRI at 4K. In recent years we have seen the global helium supply crisis impacting the MRI industry [1, 2] and Scientific community [3]. For instance, in October and November 2022, NBC News and Forbes reported that it may lead to a medical crisis, because the future of MRI is uncertain [1, 2]. On June 24, 2022, Harvard Crimson also reported that Harvard Physics labs were forced to shut down equipment and suspend projects due to the Helium shortage [3]. About 30% of Helium is consumed for MRI, whereas about 14% of Helium is consumed for laboratory applications in the US.

An MRI needs about 1,700 liters of liquid Helium to operate at 4K [1]. In the US, over 12,000 MRIs are operating. The price of helium was about $5 per liter a decade ago, however it is over $20 per liter now and fluctuating [4].

We believe Cutting Edge Superconductors (CES) is a leader in helium cryogen-free 1.5T MRI and cryogen-free NMR, based on its patent on MgB2 superconductor technology. Dr. Kim, CEO of CES, identified the superconducting mechanism of MgB2, the most important scientific problem in MgB2 research, by inventing the Testardi correlation technique, spotlighted in a review paper on MgB2 [5] in 2001. Furthermore, he invented the world's best patented technique for producing the highest critical current density of MgB2 wires and founded CES in 2011.

Cutting Edge Superconductors (CES) has an international patent for increasing critical currents of MgB2 wires and tapes, enabling cryogen-free 1.5T MRI and cryogen-free NMR. The patent is registered in 7 countries, such as US (7,791,343), EU (2,173,247, registered in Germany, Netherlands, and Italy), Japan (5,792,462), China (1,258,335), and Korea (10-1092345). This next generation MRI is designed to reduce the patient's MRI scan cost by about 40%, significantly enhancing public health services.

CES manufactures its proprietary MgB2 bulk samples, Fig. 1, and Nickel sheathed MgB2 wires, Fig. 2. Our MgB2 wires show superb critical current behavior compared to other company’s wires, as shown below, Fig. 3.

CES is planning to supply its proprietary MgB2 material to superconducting wire companies and MRI companies to cover the global MRI market. Each MRI needs 20 km long MgB2 wires and tapes that require 20kg of MgB2 material.

CES plans to charge $100,000 for 20kg MgB2 material. CES is planning to produce tons of its proprietary MgB2 material per year, and is planning to also sell the licensing of its worldwide patented technology, for MgB2 bulk samples, powders, MgB2 wires and tapes, and related apparatus, including magnets, MRI, and NMR. Licensing deals are expected to contribute with an upfront fee and royalties of about 3%-5% of the gross sales.

Since the current market size figure needs subscription, we show the market size estimate up to 2016, $5.4 Billion in Fig. 1. The current shortage of Helium may lead to a medical crisis [1]. NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) can be regarded as a small scale MRI for materials study. It has a market size of $0.86 Billion in 2020 [2].

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