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Buying a New MRI Scanner – Here’s What You Should Look Out For

Apr 23, 2021 | Tech Tips, MRI

As someone who has had quite a bit of experience running a medical establishment, you’re likely familiar with just how detailed and difficult the process of acquiring new equipment can be. 

Whether you want to purchase a set of beds for your hospital’s expansion or invest in an array of new EKGs, getting new equipment will always require you to have the proper preparation. Among the different items that you’ll need to purchase and carefully research, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner can make for an especially challenging experience.

 

What makes it so difficult to purchase the right MRI scanner?

More often than not, the overwhelming nature of purchasing an MRI scanner boils down to these three key factors: 

  1. The higher cost of the average machine
  2. The abundance of available options in the market 
  3. The variations between machines that determine if an option is suited for your needs

Considering that purchasing a machine is no longer an easy process as it used to be, it’s important to ensure that your hard-earned money goes into the right option that suits your needs. Unfortunately, this can be a task that is far easier said than done, especially for those who are purchasing a scanner for the first time.

 

What should you look into when purchasing an MRI scanner?

While the “optimal” approach to purchasing an MRI is one that can vary from person to person depending on just how well-versed they are with the nuances of these machines, there are a few basic factors to take into account. If you want to purchase the best possible option for your healthcare establishment and the scanning-related needs of your patients, here’s what you must consider when purchasing a scanner: 

 

  1. Chiller units

If you are purchasing an MRI for the first time, you must watch out for the chiller units because of how vital it is to the functionality and dependability of a unit. When you purchase a unit, it’s important to ensure that it has the right chiller because it’s vital for its magnet cooling purposes and requires a bit of technical preparation as it will be plumbed from your MRI to the outside of the building. 

By having a chiller included in your purchase, you’ll be able to save $10,000 or more on your purchase alone!

 

  1. Coils

Another key feature of the average MRI unit is the set of coils that comprise its scanning system. 

Typically, looking into this key part requires some collaboration with your med techs because this component is necessary for your facility’s specific imaging needs, whether it be the head, CTL, flex (small and large), or wrist. By getting the right coil set with your purchase, you’ll be able to avoid the need to purchase single coils (which can be very expensive and cost up to $20,000) and ensure that your scanner can be used as soon as it’s installed!

 

  1. Injector

While it may not necessarily be as common as the other components on this list, injectors are a vital component of an MRI scanner that any purchasing party should be mindful of because it affects the functioning of a unit. By making sure that you get to include a ceiling or pedestal injector in your purchase, you’ll get to save anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000. 

 


  1. Applications training

If your team of med techs isn’t necessarily familiar with the unit that you’ll acquire for your establishment, then you’ll need to set some money aside for proper applications training. By putting some money into providing the necessary training (which often lasts for three to four days) for your techs, you’ll be able to equip them with vital skills necessary for improving image quality and output with each scan!

 

Conclusion

With the medical imaging market becoming more packed with valuable options worth investing in, it’s important to know what you should watch out for when purchasing your next MRI scanner. Through this guide’s help and the key points mentioned above, you can make the best choice possible as you shop around for the piece of equipment that will help you administer the highest standard of care! At the same time, remember that pieces of equipment and machines will experience wear and tear, and this will require you to seek repairs and look for reliable parts.

We’re a medical parts supplier in the United States that helps clinics with our mechanical MRI coil repairs. If you’re experiencing some issues with your machine, give us a call today to learn more about how we can help!

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