New magnet technology makes healthcare providers forget about helium
Innovative magnet technology is helping MR facilities overcome installation/operational issues and eliminate dependency on scarce helium supply, transforming to helium-free operations.
Radiology is under pressure as it is challenged to meet the Quadruple Aim: increase productivity, improve the patient and staff experience and continue to ensure excellence in imaging to deliver better outcomes. MR provides exceptional diagnostic and therapy guidance capabilities – but it also places operational demands on the hospital or imaging center, with substantial requirements for installation, footprint and service. Now, innovative magnet technology is helping MR facilities overcome installation/operational issues and eliminate dependency on scarce helium supply.
Several years ago, a large Philips global research and development team began to address the need for improvements to MR. We listened to customers, committed to taking a leadership position and created a “big vision” for how we could potentially solve long-standing issues of MR installation, maintenance and operation for the future. Three years ago, we began to turn the vision into action. In September 2018, we introduced Philips’ BlueSeal magnet technology in our Ingenia Ambition 1.5T MR, and now the first installations are reality – with more than 1,500 patients scanned in only a couple of months.
A fraction of the helium
In contrast to classic magnet technology, which requires around 1500 liters of liquid helium for cooling during operation, this new magnet technology uses a highly efficient micro-cooling technology that requires only a negligible amount (<0.5% of today’s volume1) of liquid helium for cooling.
This means a fraction of the usual amount of liquid helium is placed in the magnet during manufacturing and then fully sealed, enclosing the gas for the rest of its life. No liquid helium can escape, either suddenly during a loss of helium or gradually.* This can help reduce long interruptions to MR services resulting from helium issues. Moreover, it means that the magnet does not have to be refilled with liquid helium during its lifetime. Helium is scarce in the world, so reducing helium requirements has a very positive economic and environmental effect and eliminates healthcare providers’ concern about availability of helium and related increased cost.
Lower installation costs
The new magnet can also reduce installation costs. On a classic magnet, long vent pipes must be installed to meet safety requirements and direct helium to an outside vent in case of a magnet quench (sudden loss of superconductivity). Because liquid helium cannot escape due to the closed magnet system, this magnet doesn’t need a vent pipe. The new magnet is also lightweight – around 900 kg lighter ** – and this lower weight can facilitate easier siting, reduce the need for floor adaptations and further lower construction costs.
Towards uninterrupted service
With classic MR systems, if an item becomes stuck in the magnet (requiring a voluntary quench) or if the magnet undergoes a sudden, involuntary loss of field, a facility’s MR services can be disrupted for weeks – which may incur massive revenue loss. Relying on unique digital controllers and 24/7 e-alerts connectivity, the new magnet qualifies as the first magnet driven by adaptive intelligence to support a set of unique service functionalities that aim to minimize unexpected downtime in case of an MR operational issue. Now, the magnetic field can be ramped down from the console if an item becomes stuck in the bore. Once the problem is resolved, a trained engineer or biomed can initiate an automated ramp-up and bring the magnet back to field, minimizing downtime.
Exceptional clinical performance
The new magnet design delivers exceptional clinical performance and can achieve hours of high-performance scanning with zero homogeneity change. Plus, the magnet offers a leading homogeneous field-of-view of 55cm and highly linear gradients.
Philips is committed to helping radiologists deliver a confident diagnosis as they move radiology into the future. After a decade of research and development, this new MR magnet solution is a great leap forward.
*Even in the rare case of the magnet becoming unsealed, the negligible amount of helium escaping would not materially affect the oxygen level within the room.
**Compared to the Philips Ingenia 1.5T ZBO magnet.