Ensuring the safe use of MRI scanners

Hospitals throughout the world, working towards improving the lives and outcomes for cancer sufferers, are using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners to diagnose and stage cancer in patients. Whilst the magnetic fields and radio waves used by MRI scanners pose no risk to humans, scanners’ cooling system potentially do, and careful installation and maintenance is essential to ensure their safe operation.

The magnets in MRI scanners are cooled with liquid helium, with the average MRI machine utilising around 1,700 litres. Liquid helium turns to gas and expands rapidly at temperatures above -260° C. To prevent an explosion in the unlikely event of this happening, systems require a safety valve and quench pipe to ensure the helium gas will be safely dispersed outside the building.

We have installed quench pipes at University College London Hospital, and other hospitals, specifically for this purpose.