KyphoLift, a breakthrough in diagnostic imaging support systems, exhibited at the ISMRM & ISMRT Annual Meeting & Exhibition earlier this year. KyphoLift Founder Brandon Johnson also recently attended the AHRA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.
Johnson shared a very personal story that underscores why getting the word out matters so much to him.
“Dr. Hennenfent reached out to me after struggling to access the MRI he needed and campaigned for his hospital to provide a KyphoLift. This summer, we donated a KyphoLift and KyphoWedge in his name. Sadly, he passed away in April, but I share his story to honor his persistence and to highlight the real-world impact of access to this solution,” Johnson said.
ISMRT attendees received a live, hands-on demonstration of the KyphoLift and KyphoWedge, designed to revolutionize patient positioning in diagnostic imaging.
Accurate imaging starts with proper positioning – but for patients with kyphosis, obesity, or limited mobility, standard positioning practices often fail. Manual lifting, unstable pillow stacks, and frequent repositioning compromise safety and image quality. KyphoLift offers a new standard of care: empowering technologists to safely and efficiently position patients without the need for additional staff, even during low-coverage shifts.
“Imaging accuracy shouldn’t be dependent on how many hands are available,” said Johnson. “We created KyphoLift to solve the real, daily challenges radiology teams face – enhancing safety, improving comfort, and enabling more diagnostic scans with less hassle.”
KyphoLift features include:
- Enables safe, solo positioning of patients
- Reduces injury risk for technologists and patients
- Increases patient comfort and stability
- Improves image quality for better diagnostic confidence
- Boosts scan throughput and clinic efficiency
With increasing patient volume and a global technologist shortage, KyphoLift is uniquely positioned to streamline radiology workflows and improve outcomes.
Johnson shared more information with ICE Magazine.
“I began my career in radiology about 18 years ago as an X-ray technologist, later expanding into MRI and CT after completing my B.S. in advanced radiology. I spent 12 years working in MRI before moving into leadership roles as a Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer and Radiation Safety Officer at the VA Salt Lake City, where I spent the last four years of my clinical career focused on radiology administration, safety and compliance,” Johnson said. “I’ve always had a genuine curiosity for understanding why and how things work, and radiology gave me a field so vast and complex that there is always more to learn. Technologists sit at the intersection of patient care, radiologists and physicists – a role that can be as challenging as you make it, and one that has continually inspired me to keep growing.”
He explained how he came up with the name KyphoLift.
“Although there are many patient conditions that require extra time and effort to position in the MRI coil – such as obesity, spinal fusions or cerebral palsy – I chose Kypho from the term kyphosis, which refers to a forward curvature of the spine. Patients with kyphosis are among the most challenging to position safely and effectively for imaging. Lift reflects both the act of elevating patients into proper alignment and the broader goal of lifting standards in MRI safety and workflow,” Johnson said.
The response from technologists “has been immediate and overwhelmingly positive.”
“Because the problem has been so widespread and long-standing, technologists usually recognize exactly what KyphoLift does the moment they see it – often without any explanation at all,” Johnson said. “During demos, I highlight features that may not be immediately apparent, such as how KyphoLift centers the patient’s center of gravity on the lower platform to prevent side-to-side rolling, or how patients can be scanned at variable angles that are reproducible with the included inclinometer. These details ensure safe, consistent studies while eliminating the decompression issues that come with using pillows and pads today.”
“What has been striking is that nearly everyone outside of the MRI technologist role – administrators, radiologists, even physicists – is often unaware of the problem or how significantly it impacts workflow and outcomes. This contrast makes technologists’ reactions even stronger. Adoption has been rapid, with consistently positive feedback from both staff and patients,” he added.
For more information, visit kypholift.com.
