Future diagnostics - the first MRI without helium
Industry News
The first Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device has been installed at the Medical Centre ARS in Riga on April 21 this year, with the help of which diagnostic tests can be performed without the use of helium. This is the first diagnostic device of its kind in Latvia, which is an important step in modernizing diagnostics and moving towards a more sustainable and ecological Latvian health care system.
- Traditional magnetic resonance equipment uses up to 1,500 liters of helium, while this innovative technology features a fully enclosed BlueSeal magnet that reduces the amount of liquid helium required for cooling by up to seven liters.
- To ensure patient comfort, the device has an enlarged opening – 70 cm in diameter. The Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T also has a large imaging area (55x55x50 cm) with a very high degree of uniformity and excellent imaging quality. The latest imaging applications and sequences drive cutting-edge research.
- This modern medical device provides an opportunity for the Latvian health care system to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
A step towards sustainable healthcare
Sustainability of health care is one of the objectives of the Public Health Guidelines for years 2021-2027. With the help of the new MRI device Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T, Medical Center ARS in partnership with Arbor Medical Corporation, has laid the foundations for greener and more sustainable healthcare.
Chairman of the Board Maris Andersons about the Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T:
“Innovative technologies can deliver faster scanning while maintaining high resolution. Equally important is the fact that the new device allows diagnostics without the use of helium, which is not an unlimited resource and whose availability may be unpredictable in the future. In addition, it reduces the potential difficulties associated with helium operation and maintenance. If the machine stops unexpectedly, it can be turned off from the console control panel, and staff can restart the magnet and resume operation as soon as the problem is resolved. It significantly reduces downtime as well as speeds up the process, allowing us to provide patients with the highest quality healthcare, while increasing clinical confidence and improving staff comfort.”
Dace Rātfeldere, head of Arbor Medical Corporation, states:
“The introduction of the Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T system will ensure a particularly high level of comfort and diagnostic reliability. At the same time, this facility is an important step towards greener healthcare. We are aware that helium, which is required for the operation of magnetic resonance equipment, is not a renewable resource, so its limited availability and price could soon become a major challenge.”
More environmentally friendly and lower operating costs
As the Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T works without helium replenishment, productivity increases and operating costs are reduced. BlueSeal magnet microcooling technology has reduced the amount of liquid helium used for cooling to seven liters, and this minimum amount is placed in the magnet during the production stage. The magnet is then completely sealed, thus preventing both sudden and gradual evaporation of the helium.
Miks Misans, Head of Business Development, Central and Eastern Europe of Philips, emphasizes:
“Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T is the only MRI device that allows the user to turn the magnetic field on and off as needed without any negative consequences and without calling in service personnel. In conventional MRI equipment, helium emissions occur in the event of an emergency shutdown, which means high costs and long downtime. The Comfort Plus mattress is also a significant improvement to make it easier for the patient to sleep throughout the examination. This is not the first time that Philips has stood out in the MRI equipment market with its concern for patients.”
In hospitals around the world there is a tendency to focus on a sustainable and environmentally friendly medical system. Green solutions have a positive impact on the environment and in many cases, there are reduced operating and maintenance costs. Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T is one example of this approach. This will help Latvian healthcare professionals make a correct and rapid diagnosis, while consuming 99.5% less helium than using other MRI devices.