Professor James Hutchison, inventor of MRI scanner

Professor James Hutchison, the Aberdeen academic who invented the full-body MRI scanner, has died aged 77.

The pioneering scientist, known to his friends as Jim, built the Mark 1 machine which scanned its first patient on August 28 1980.

He helped patent a “game-changing” technique known as spin-warp imaging, which was adopted throughout the world and is still used today.

And yet friends and colleagues spoke yesterday of how he regarded himself as part of a team and was never interested in personal glory.

The technology behind MRI was developed in the 1970s by a number of teams worldwide, including those at Aberdeen and Nottingham universities.

But it was Prof Hutchison who created the first full-body scanner, a development that changed the face of MRI research.

Professor David Lurie, who joined his team as a young researcher at Aberdeen after completing his PhD, said many in the scientific community had dismissed MRI as a non-viable technology.

“But in 1980, Jim co-invented spin-warp technique with his colleague Bill Edelstein, and the difference was night and day.

“Without doubt, he was the most capable scientist I ever met. He knew about everything, not just about MRI.

“Jim was also incredibly modest. He never wanted to take personal credit for anything.”

Professor Steve Heys, the current head of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, said: “Professor Hutchison will be remembered as a true pioneer of MRI technology.

Prof Hutchison created the first full-body scanner.