NETHERLANDS – Philips has introduced its next-generation MRI scanner, the BlueSeal 1.5T, featuring an innovative design that eliminates the need for liquid helium coolant.
First launched in 2018, Philips’ BlueSeal series has already revolutionized the MRI industry by minimizing helium usage, a critical and increasingly scarce resource.
While traditional MRI machines can require up to 1,500 liters of helium over their lifespan, the BlueSeal scanners only require 7 liters during manufacture, saving millions of liters of helium globally.
The healthcare sector, which consumes about 30% of the world’s helium supply, benefits greatly from this eco-friendly advancement.
The new 1.5T BlueSeal model comes with several enhancements, including a wide 70-centimeter bore and artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to optimize the MRI workflow, improve image quality, and reduce scan times.
By eliminating the need for helium ventilation infrastructure, the scanner offers greater flexibility in installation, even in challenging spaces like elevated floors.
Philips has also reduced the weight of the scanner by up to 1,700 kilograms, making it the lightest MRI of its kind.
“Philips invented helium-free MRI technology, and since the launch of BlueSeal, we have installed over 1,500 systems worldwide, including the first-ever helium-free mobile MRI units,” said Ioannis Panagiotelis, global MRI business leader at Philips.
“We estimate that our BlueSeal systems have saved nearly 2.75 million liters of helium to date.”
The latest iteration of the BlueSeal system also integrates advanced AI features, including the SmartExam tool, which automates up to 80% of the MRI procedures, and the SmartSpeed function, which offers up to 65% higher image resolution without extending scan times.
Additionally, the system includes SmartReading technology, a cloud-based AI tool developed in collaboration with icometrix and Quibim to provide precise, automated reports for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis, as well as prostate cancer.
Philips will showcase the new BlueSeal 1.5T MRI scanner at the upcoming 2024 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago.
The integration of AI into the scanner marks a significant step forward in MRI technology, offering a combination of efficiency, eco-friendliness, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
“With this latest innovation, we continue our commitment to providing wider access to high-quality MRI scans for patients across various settings,” Panagiotelis added.
