[Intl_DxMedPhys] Helium free MRI

[Andrew Sampson]

Just like so many things, I this is all marketing language. Siemens and now
GE now have what they call "Helium Free" MRI's that are now helium free.
Siemens' has about 0.7 liters, and I understand GE has a couple liters.
Both systems are closed systems, meaning they never will loose any Helium.
They are designed to perform a controlled ramp down (Siemens about an hour
of time, Siemens about 4 hours) is they loose power (Siemens after about 1
hour, and GE about 6 hours). All the expanded helium is stored within the
system. When the power is restored, they will ramp themselves backup and
prepared themselves for imaging (Siemens takes about 4 hours, and GE takes
about 8 hours).

Siemens has a 0.55T magnet already selling in the states, with a 1.5T
510(k) pending. GE only has a 1.5T that I think is still CE (European
certification) with expected 510(k) pending soon. Both 1.5T's we're
released this RSNA.

So while the Helium requirement is substantially less without loss to
performance (Siemens' system is an Altea system with the "Helium free"
magnet), they are still superconducting, and require Helium.

Just marketing... GE even calls theirs "Freelium"... Lol

Andrew


On Thu, Dec 4, 2025, 7:44 AM Bob Kobistek via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <
intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu> wrote:

> Not the answer to your question, but I remember that Toshiba once had an
> open MRI scanner called the Opart, which had helium-free superconducting
> magnets. The big downside was that if the cold head went down, the magnet
> would quench in minutes.
>
> Not the answer to your question, but I remember that Toshiba once had an
> open MRI scanner called the Opart, which had helium-free superconducting
> magnets. The big downside was that if the cold head went down, the magnet
> would quench in minutes.
>
>
>
>
>
> Robert J. Kobistek, MS, FACR, DABR, MRSE(MRSC™)
>
> Medical Physicist
>
> RJK Medical Physics, Inc.
>
> 440-463-7879
>
>
>
> *From:* Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <
> intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list-bounces at lists.osu.edu> *On Behalf Of *Lei Qin
> via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 3, 2025 11:57 AM
> *To:* intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu
> *Subject:* [Intl_DxMedPhys] Helium free MRI
>
>
>
> Hi all, I heard there is an expectation to major shift to helium free MRIs
> after 2026. I do not know much about the price/performance values and
> clinical practice of helium free MRIs, especially in comparison to helium
> cooled MRIs. Anybody can
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I heard there is an expectation to major shift to helium free MRIs after
> 2026.
>
>
>
> I do not know much about the price/performance values and clinical
> practice of helium free MRIs, especially in comparison to helium cooled
> MRIs.
>
>
>
> Anybody can share some sources for this information?
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Lei
>
>
>
>
>
> Lei Qin, PhD DABR,
>
> Director of Medical Physics, Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer
> Institute
>
> Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School
>
> Tel: 617-632-6943
>
> Email: *Lei_Qin at dfci.harvard.edu <Lei_Qin at dfci.harvard.edu>*
>
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