Published 28 September 2026. Product facts were checked against Hitachi (now Fujifilm Healthcare) documentation on 28 September 2026. Written by the Medical Outfitters sales and field engineering team.
A refurbished Hitachi AIRIS open MRI costs $300,000 to $525,000 in 2026, delivered, installed and warrantied, and a new Fujifilm AIRIS Vento $600,000 to $950,000. The AIRIS family is the most common open MRI on the used market: permanent-magnet 0.3T systems (0.2T on the Mate) with no helium, no chiller and a truly open gantry. Fujifilm acquired Hitachi’s diagnostic imaging business in 2021, so the current AIRIS Vento is sold new as a Fujifilm system, and Medical Outfitters is an authorized Fujifilm dealer.
This guide covers what the AIRIS family is, the differences between the AIRIS II, Elite, Mate and Vento, our 2026 ranges, what moves the price, what to check on a permanent-magnet system, who an open 0.3T suits against a 1.5T such as the Siemens Espree, and how to buy one. Specifications are Hitachi and Fujifilm published figures, checked 28 September 2026.
What Is the Hitachi AIRIS?
Hitachi’s AIRIS line is a family of open MRI scanners built around a permanent magnet: two flat pole pieces above and below the patient, no superconducting coil, no helium and no cryogen plumbing. The gantry is open on the sides, which is why the AIRIS has been the choice for claustrophobic, paediatric, bariatric and anxious patients for thirty years, and why searches for a Hitachi MRI usually mean one of these systems.
The AIRIS II is the 0.3T workhorse: an asymmetric open gantry with a 43 cm patient gap, a table rated to 500 lb (226 kg), four RF receive channels and gradients of 15 mT/m at 30 T/m/s, on a gantry that weighs about 15,700 kg. The AIRIS Elite is the same 0.3T magnet with updated electronics, software and a complement of array coils. The AIRIS Mate is the compact 0.2T version for small rooms and light case loads. The AIRIS Vento is the current 0.3T generation, with 22 mT/m gradients at 55 T/m/s, a fully motorised lateral-slide table rated to 225 kg and a 9.5 kVA power supply; the Vento LT is its lighter variant.
Since 2021 the line belongs to Fujifilm Healthcare. The AIRIS Vento is sold new as the Fujifilm AIRIS Vento, alongside the 0.4T APERTO Lucent and the 1.2T OASIS Velocity high-field open system. Hitachi’s other magnets, the Echelon 1.5T and Oasis 1.2T, carry the Fujifilm name now too and are covered on their own product pages.
| Specification | AIRIS |
|---|---|
| Field strength | 0.3T (AIRIS II, Elite, Vento); 0.2T (AIRIS Mate) |
| Magnet | Permanent; no helium, no cryogens, no chiller |
| Patient gap | 43 cm (AIRIS II) |
| Table | 500 lb (226 kg) on the AIRIS II; motorised lateral-slide table, 225 kg, on the Vento |
| Gradients | 15 mT/m at 30 T/m/s (AIRIS II); 22 mT/m at 55 T/m/s (Vento) |
| RF channels | 4 (AIRIS II); array coils on the Elite and Vento |
| Gantry weight | About 15,700 kg (AIRIS II) |
| Power | 9.5 kVA single supply (Vento); no equipment room required |
Source: Hitachi AIRIS II and AIRIS Vento specifications and the Fujifilm AIRIS Vento product data, checked 28 September 2026. Configuration on a specific unit is confirmed from its system data before we quote.
AIRIS Configurations
The four names cover about twenty-five years of production. The generation decides the image quality and the speed; the coil set decides what you can scan.
| Configuration | What it is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| AIRIS II | 0.3T, 43 cm gap, 4 RF channels, 15 mT/m gradients; built from the late 1990s | Low-volume extremity, spine and routine work at the lowest entry price |
| AIRIS Elite | 0.3T with updated electronics, software and multiple array coils | Sites that want better throughput and coil coverage on the same magnet |
| AIRIS Mate | 0.2T compact open system for small rooms | Very light case loads, extremity and spine screening |
| AIRIS Vento | 0.3T current generation: 22 mT/m gradients, motorised lateral-slide table, RADAR motion correction | The system to buy new or late-model refurbished; whole-body case mix |
| AIRIS Vento LT | Lighter variant of the Vento | Sites with floor-loading limits |
| Coil set | Solenoid coils on the AIRIS II; array coils on the Elite and Vento | Array coils raise both image quality and price |
On a permanent-magnet system there is no gradient or channel upgrade path; the generation you buy is the performance you get for the life of the system.
How Much Does a Hitachi AIRIS Cost?
The ranges below are Medical Outfitters ranges for a refurbished AIRIS delivered, installed and warrantied, inside the open and low-field band of our MRI cost guide, with the new Fujifilm AIRIS Vento in the new open band. Headline prices published elsewhere are often for the equipment alone, before de-installation, rigging, installation and current tariffs.
| Configuration | Medical Outfitters range, 2026 | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Hitachi AIRIS II, refurbished | $300,000 to $400,000 | Age, coil set and console generation |
| Hitachi AIRIS Elite, refurbished | $325,000 to $450,000 | Array coils and software level |
| Hitachi AIRIS Mate, refurbished | $300,000 to $350,000 | Few units; small-room sites |
| Hitachi AIRIS Vento, refurbished | $375,000 to $525,000 | Year, table and coil set |
| Fujifilm AIRIS Vento, new | $600,000 to $950,000 | Configuration and coils; authorized dealer quote |
How Medical Outfitters sells the AIRIS. The AIRIS Vento is sold new by Medical Outfitters as an authorized Fujifilm dealer, with delivery, installation, applications training and the manufacturer warranty in the quote; Fujifilm has owned the Hitachi imaging lines since 2021. Earlier AIRIS II, Elite and Mate systems are sourced refurbished on request and quoted delivered, installed and warrantied. Our refurbished line, MO Select, covers GE and Siemens systems. The new Fujifilm AIRIS Vento is on its product page; the other new MRI systems we sell are the Fujifilm ECHELON Smart 1.5T and ECHELON Smart ZeroHelium 1.5T, the OASIS Velocity 1.2T, APERTO Lucent 0.4T and AIRIS Vento 0.3T open systems, and the Esaote G-scan, S-scan and O-scan extremity and weight-bearing systems. Availability of any specific model, year or configuration is subject to supply at the time of your request, and every purchase is governed by the written quote and sales agreement.
The same question arrives in many forms: Hitachi MRI price, Hitachi AIRIS II cost, Hitachi AIRIS Elite for sale, AIRIS Vento price, Hitachi open MRI cost, how much does a AIRIS cost. They all resolve to the table above. Tell us the configuration and the room and the quote writes itself. Request a AIRIS quote »
What Moves the Price of a AIRIS
Two quotes for the same AIRIS can differ by a whole configuration. These are the lines that move the price, roughly in order of impact.
- Generation Vento systems cost the most and AIRIS II systems the least, because gradients, table and coils all improved
- Coil set Array coils on the Elite and Vento are the main option cost
- Console and software age A recent console and software release is worth paying for on an AIRIS II or Elite
- Site No helium, no chiller and a 9.5 kVA supply keep installation cheap; floor loading is the one structural question
- Condition of the magnet temperature control Permanent magnets drift with temperature, so a working control system is part of the price
- Warranty Our range includes the MO Select warranty or the Fujifilm manufacturer warranty on a new system
What to Check Before You Buy a Used AIRIS
A used AIRIS is bought on its records. These are the checks our engineers run and the questions to put to any seller before you sign.
- Magnet temperature control: A permanent magnet’s field drifts with temperature. Confirm the magnet heater and the room HVAC keep the magnet stable, and look at the frequency drift log.
- Generation and coil set: Confirm which AIRIS it is, list the coils, and test each. Solenoid coils on the AIRIS II limit throughput compared with the array coils on the Elite and Vento.
- Console and software: Older consoles run on dated computers. Confirm the release, the DICOM connectivity and whether spares exist for the console hardware.
- Table and lateral slide: The lateral-slide table is what makes off-centre anatomy work. Check the motors, the slide and the 500 lb rating.
- Gradient and RF amplifiers: Ask what has been replaced. Amplifier cabinets age faster than the magnet.
- Floor loading: An AIRIS II gantry weighs about 15,700 kg. Confirm the slab before the system is bought.
- Parts route: Fujifilm supports the line; confirm parts availability for the exact generation before you buy an early AIRIS II.
Who the AIRIS Suits, and the Alternatives
An AIRIS suits sites where patient access and low running cost matter more than speed and resolution.
- Orthopaedic, pain and chiropractic practices doing extremity and spine imaging at modest volume
- Imaging centres adding an open system for claustrophobic, paediatric and bariatric patients
- Clinics in buildings that cannot take a superconducting magnet’s siting, helium or power
- Veterinary and research users who need whole-body imaging at the lowest installed price
Alternatives to the AIRIS
| Model | Why you would choose it instead |
|---|---|
| Siemens MAGNETOM Espree | A 70 cm short-bore 1.5T for patients who cannot tolerate a standard bore, with high-field image quality |
| GE Signa HDxt | A conventional 60 cm 1.5T at the bottom of the 1.5T band, for volume and resolution |
| Fujifilm OASIS Velocity | The 1.2T high-field open system, sold new, for sites that want open design without the 0.3T compromise |
| Fujifilm APERTO Lucent | The 0.4T single-pillar open system, sold new |
How to Buy a AIRIS
- Send the room, the power supply and the case mix. Room dimensions, the existing RF shielding and chiller, the electrical supply and the exams you run decide the configuration before the model does.
- Choose the configuration. Field strength, channel count, gradients, coil list and software level, matched to the case mix rather than to the largest set.
- Get the configuration in writing. Every coil by name, the software release, the licensed applications, the helium and cold head history and the warranty term, so quotes compare line by line.
- Survey the site. RF room, fringe field, chiller capacity, power and rigging route, before the magnet is bought.
- Schedule the de-installation and rigging. Ramp-down, transport and installation are in our price; the schedule is agreed with your facilities team.
- Agree the warranty and service term. The MO Select warranty is written; a service contract for the years after it is quoted alongside.
- Applications training and go-live. Protocol set-up and technologist training on site.
We quote within one business day and deliver, install, train and support across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean through an ISO 13485:2016 certified quality system. Request a AIRIS quote » Current availability is on the MO Select AIRIS product page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a Hitachi AIRIS MRI cost?
- A refurbished Hitachi AIRIS costs $300,000 to $525,000 in 2026 delivered, installed and warrantied: AIRIS II $300,000 to $400,000, AIRIS Elite $325,000 to $450,000, AIRIS Mate $300,000 to $350,000 and AIRIS Vento $375,000 to $525,000. A new Fujifilm AIRIS Vento runs $600,000 to $950,000.
- What is the difference between the AIRIS II and the AIRIS Elite?
- The same 0.3T permanent magnet. The Elite has updated electronics, software and a set of array coils, which improve image quality and throughput; the AIRIS II uses solenoid coils on four RF channels. The Elite costs more and scans faster.
- Is a 0.3T open MRI good enough?
- For extremity, spine and routine musculoskeletal work at modest volume, yes. For neuro detail, fast body imaging and high volume, a 1.5T is the answer. The open premium is patient access and running cost, not image quality; a 70 cm short-bore 1.5T such as the Siemens Espree is the middle ground.
- Does an AIRIS need helium?
- No. The magnet is permanent, so there is no helium, no cryogen plumbing and no chiller. The trade is that the field strength is fixed at 0.3T and the magnet needs stable room temperature to hold its field.
- What happened to Hitachi MRI?
- Fujifilm acquired Hitachi’s diagnostic imaging business in 2021. The AIRIS Vento, APERTO Lucent, OASIS Velocity and Echelon lines are now sold new under the Fujifilm Healthcare name, and Fujifilm supports the installed Hitachi base.
- How much room does an AIRIS need?
- Less than a superconducting system: no equipment room on the Vento, a 9.5 kVA supply and no chiller. The structural question is floor loading, because the gantry weighs about 15,700 kg on the AIRIS II. The RF shielded room is still required.
- Does Medical Outfitters sell the Hitachi AIRIS?
- Yes. We sell the AIRIS Vento new as an authorized Fujifilm dealer and source refurbished AIRIS II, Elite, Mate and Vento systems on request, delivered, installed and warrantied across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Medical Outfitters sells new Fujifilm, Esaote and Mammotome systems as an authorized dealer and certified refurbished GE and Siemens systems through MO Select, with delivery and installation included in every quote. Browse MRI machines for sale, browse CT scanners for sale and browse X-ray machines for sale; every listing shows the model, condition and availability with a quote form.
Tell us the configuration, the room and the case mix. Medical Outfitters returns the AIRIS delivered, installed and warrantied as one written quote. Serving the US, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
