A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is a common yet vital imaging piece of equipment used in various medical facilities. Utilized in the field of radiology, it forms pictures of the anatomy and physiological processes of a patient for diagnostic purposes. It works by using a strong magnetic field and radio waves to capture detailed, cross-sectional images of the body’s internal organs and systems. The scanner itself looks like a large tube with a table in the middle, allowing a patient to get on and lay down.
However, one problem encountered is how the weather can impact your MRI equipment. The last thing you’ll want to happen is for the storm––such as tornadoes or hurricanes––to damage your large piece of equipment and ruin your costly investment. How do you go about protecting it?
In this article, we’ve prepared some practical solutions on how to protect your MRI scanner from an incoming storm:
1. Resort to remote monitoring
It’s best to have constant monitoring of all your pieces of equipment in your medical facility, including your MRI scanner. The goal is to ensure that they are always in top shape and working condition so they can be used to diagnose patients at all times. In most cases, you can deploy your personnel to regularly monitor the equipment pieces.
If you run short of people to watch over the MRI scan 24/7, you can resort to a remote monitoring device instead. Be sure to have a key person use this, particularly during a storm. Generally, this device allows you to check the equipment’s stats such as helium level, compressor and chiller status, magnet pressure, and equipment room temperature, even if you aren’t in the facility.
2. Set a generator back-up in place
It’s inevitable for your imaging facility to encounter a power outage during a storm. When confronted with this situation, you want to ensure that your pieces of equipment are protected. On top of this is to ensure your MRI is kept running or properly shut down.
When it comes to this, having a back-up generator will be your best bet. If there is a power failure, this device will ensure the continuity of electricity to keep the vital components of your equipment running and your remote monitoring uninterrupted. Otherwise, your MRI parts will be compromised, and you won’t be able to monitor your equipment.
3. Have an on-call engineer to work anytime
During a heavy storm, you may not know how your pieces of equipment will be severely affected. The chances are that the magnet starts to become cold and the helium is no longer boiling. So, while remote monitoring is a must, prompt actions to maintain your equipment are also critical. This is where an on-call engineer comes into the picture.
It’s best to have a trusted engineer who can work on your MRI anytime. Regular maintenance visits from this engineer will address common problems before they get worse. If there are some problems caused by the storm, this expert will do the needful to ensure the equipment is in optimal working condition.
Conclusion
At this point, you now know how to protect the MRI equipment in your medical facility. As outlined above, all it takes is to resort to remote monitoring, set a generator back-up in place, and have an on-call engineer to work anytime. With all these in place, you can ensure your piece of equipment is always monitored and taken care of because it is a costly and highly useful investment!
As an ISO 13485:2016 certified company, we offer OEM solutions by providing Directmed parts and services in the US. We follow strict guidelines to ensure you get the best MRI and CT parts in top shape and working condition. If you specifically need MRI parts for your medical facility, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!
