When it comes to MRI mobiles, a bit more is required than storing a CT or PET mobile. Helium levels need to be checked every morning. Magnet pressure needs to be kept track of constantly. Chillers need to be attended to and each unit has to be kept permanently plugged into a 480-volt Russellstoll outlet for the duration of its storage.

Mobile MRI units are often subjected to more vibration than a fixed site unit, so it is very important that the integrity of the helium venting system not be compromised.


"Our team of field-service technicians are trained to inspect all seals and perform lead detection on the systems to ensure that they have not be compromised," says Thomas Freund, Director of MRI Services for Oxford Superconducting Technology, a division of Oxford Instruments. "In the event that the system is exposed to atmosphere, [our] technicians are trained to clear any visible ice and restore the system back into normal operation. In extreme cases of helium vessel icing, there may be a requirement to warm the system to room temperature and then re-cool it to liquid helium temperature."

Power Down?

Mobiles were not meant to be stored, as they can't make money if they are sitting on a lot. Still, some of the mobiles sit for weeks or even months at a time.

"From a cost perspective, if it's stored too long, it can become problematic," says Chris Eaton, sales and service manager for Polaris Medical Imaging. "You're basically using cryogens and power and not using your machine. You have to calculate if it's worth keeping it on power."




If someone has a magnet and puts it in warehouse without power and it goes warm after a few weeks, the cost to cool it down again with new helium would be more expensive than it would be to keep it cold during that time as a cool down would cost from $30,000 to $40,000. However, Profeta says at some point, it does make sense to pull the plug if they are not getting used.

"There is a break-even point, usually after six months, so if you know it will be sitting that long, let it warm up and cool it down again," he says. "Sometimes people get stuck hanging on to something for a year and don't need to be paying $36,000-plus to let it sit for that long."

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