An MRI machine is a diagnostic imaging system that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissue, organs, and the nervous system, with no ionizing radiation.
MRI machine cost ranges from roughly $300,000 for a refurbished open MRI to over $3.7 million for a new 3T system, depending on field strength, condition, and configuration.
An MRI scanner is one of the largest capital investments an imaging facility makes, and the right choice depends on your case mix, patient comfort needs, and budget. This guide breaks down what an MRI machine costs, how field strength affects price, the leading brands, and how to decide between new and refurbished.
What Is an MRI Machine?
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine uses a powerful superconducting magnet, radio-frequency coils, and gradient systems to map the body in fine detail. Unlike CT or X-ray, MRI uses no ionizing radiation, which makes it ideal for repeat imaging and soft-tissue work. The patient lies on a table that moves into the bore of the magnet while the system captures images. MRI is a core tool for neurology, orthopedics, oncology, and cardiology in hospitals and imaging centers.
How Does an MRI Machine Work?
The magnet aligns hydrogen atoms in the body, radio-frequency pulses knock them out of alignment, and as they realign the scanner measures the signals to build cross-sectional images. The strength of that magnet, measured in Tesla (T), is the single most important factor in image quality and price.
MRI Field Strength Explained (Open vs 1.5T vs 3T)
Field strength is the MRI equivalent of CT slice count: the spec that most affects image quality, capability, and cost.
Open / Low-Field MRI
Lower field strength in a patient-friendly open design. Best for claustrophobic, pediatric, and bariatric patients, at the lowest cost.
1.5 Tesla (1.5T) MRI
The most popular field strength, balancing image quality, throughput, and cost for the majority of routine and advanced imaging.
3 Tesla (3T) MRI
High-field systems delivering the finest detail for neuro, musculoskeletal, and research-grade imaging, at a premium price.
What Types of MRI Systems Are There?
- Closed-bore MRI: the standard high-field design (1.5T and 3T) for maximum image quality.
- Wide-bore MRI: a larger opening for patient comfort while keeping high field strength.
- Open MRI: an open-sided design for anxious, pediatric, and larger patients.
- Extremity MRI: compact systems dedicated to imaging hands, knees, and joints.
- Mobile MRI: trailer-mounted systems for flexible or interim imaging capacity.
How Much Does an MRI Machine Cost?
MRI machine cost is driven mainly by field strength and condition (new vs. refurbished). Typical system price ranges are:
| MRI Type | Refurbished | New |
|---|---|---|
| Open / low-field MRI | $300,000 to $525,000 | $600,000 to $950,000 |
| 1.5T MRI | $475,000 to $975,000 | $1,200,000 to $2,000,000 |
| 3T MRI | $1,000,000 to $1,900,000 | $2,100,000 to $3,700,000 |
These are system prices. For background on the imaging itself, see the FDA overview of MRI. Full installed cost adds siting, RF shielding, rigging, and cryogens. A certified refurbished MRI typically saves 40 to 60% versus new. See current MRI pricing and availability »
MRI Systems We Carry
Medical Outfitters carries new and certified refurbished MRI systems across field strengths:
- Fujifilm Echelon: the Echelon 1.5T and Echelon Synergy high-field platforms
- Fujifilm Oasis & Aperto: the high-field open Oasis Velocity (1.2T) and the open Aperto Lucent
- Fujifilm Airis: the open Airis Vento
- Esaote: the O-scan extremity MRI
- Swift MR: AI-powered image acceleration for faster scans
Looking for a refurbished GE, Siemens, Philips, or Hitachi MRI? Our team can also help you source and compare other manufacturers.
Should You Buy a New or Refurbished MRI Machine?
A new MRI offers the latest coils, software, and a full manufacturer warranty, but at the highest price. A certified refurbished MRI delivers proven clinical performance for far less, fully inspected, cryo-tested, and warrantied. For many facilities, a refurbished higher-field system delivers more capability per dollar than a new entry-level one. Refurbished typically saves 40 to 60 percent versus new.
What Does MRI Installation and Siting Involve?
An MRI requires careful site planning: RF shielding, magnetic shielding, structural support for the magnet, and a cryogen (liquid helium) supply for superconducting systems. A quench (rapid loss of the magnetic field) must be vented safely, so proper installation matters. Medical Outfitters manages de-installation, rigging, site preparation, RF shielding, installation, and cryogenic services. Learn about installation and rigging »
MRI vs. CT: What Is the Difference?
The full comparison, including what changes for the building and the budget, is in our MRI vs CT comparison.
An MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves with no radiation, and excels at soft tissue, brain, spine, and joint detail. A CT scanner uses X-rays, is much faster, and is better for trauma, lung, and bone imaging. Many facilities run both. If you are also evaluating CT, see our CT Scanner Cost & Buying Guide.
What Does MRI Service and Maintenance Involve?
MRI systems need ongoing preventive maintenance, coil care, and cryogen management to stay reliable and compliant. Medical Outfitters provides MRI service, repair, parts, and cryogenics support. Learn about our service and repair options »
How to Choose the Right MRI Machine
Match field strength and design to your case mix, patient population, and budget. Key takeaways:
- Open / low-field for patient comfort and the lowest cost
- 1.5T for the best balance of quality, throughput, and price
- 3T for the finest detail in neuro and musculoskeletal imaging
- Refurbished for 40 to 60% savings with comparable image quality
- Plan siting, RF shielding, and cryogens early to avoid delays
What Affects the Price of an MRI Machine?
Two MRI machines of the same field strength and the same age can be hundreds of thousands apart. These are the things that move an MRI machine price, roughly in order of impact.
- Field strength The single biggest factor. Open and low-field, 1.5T and 3T are three different price classes before anything else is considered
- Bore size A 70 cm wide bore commands a premium over a standard 60 cm bore on the same field strength
- Coil set Coils are expensive, they are what the system actually images with, and a system quoted with three coils is not comparable to the same system quoted with eight
- Channel count More receive channels means more simultaneous coil elements and faster imaging
- Software packages Cardiac, neuro, spectroscopy and advanced vascular packages are licensed, priced separately, and do not always transfer with a used system
- Magnet condition and helium history Whether the magnet has ever been ramped down or quenched, and what its boil-off rate is
- Platform support status Whether the manufacturer still supports the software and supplies parts matters more than the year of manufacture
A note on wording, because it affects what you are comparing. You will see the same equipment listed as an MRI machine, an MRI system and an MRI scanner. They mean the same thing, so MRI scanner cost and MRI machine cost are the same question. What is not the same is a bare system price against a working configuration.
The coil set is the one buyers most often miss. Ask for the MRI equipment cost with the coils you actually need included, because a bare system price and a working configuration are different numbers. Our guides to open MRI versus closed MRI and wide bore MRI systems cover the format decision in more detail.
How Much Does It Cost to Run an MRI Machine?
Purchase price is not the whole number, and on MRI the running cost is larger than on any other modality. Budget for these before you sign, not after.
- Cryogens A superconducting magnet consumes liquid helium. Modern zero boil-off systems consume very little in normal operation, older magnets consume considerably more, and the interval is a property of the specific magnet rather than a general figure
- Cold head and chiller The cold head is a wear part and the chiller has to run continuously. If either fails, helium starts boiling off
- Service contract Priced against the platform, its age and the response time you need. Get it in writing alongside the purchase quote
- Power An MRI draws continuously, not only while scanning, because the magnet and the chiller never switch off
- Coil repair and replacement Coils are handled constantly and they are the component most often damaged in daily use
- Accreditation and QA Recurring, and required
The cost nobody budgets for is a quench. Losing the helium charge is expensive and the system is down until it is refilled and ramped back up, which is why what an MRI quench is is worth understanding before it happens. We handle cryogenics and helium as a standing service, including on systems bought elsewhere.
We do not publish running-cost figures, because an honest number depends on the specific magnet, its age, its duty cycle and where it is installed. Tell us the system and the site and we will give you a real one.
What Is Included in an MRI Machine Price?
The figures above are system prices. When you compare two quotes, compare the scope as well as the number, because the gap is often what is in them rather than the machine.
- Quoted with the system The magnet, gradient and RF chain, console, the coil set as specified, and the software packages listed
- Quoted per project Freight and rigging, crane or wall opening where access requires it, RF shielded enclosure, chiller and mechanical work, structural work, first helium fill, applications training
Siting is where MRI budgets are won or lost. RF shielding, floor loading, the route in and the magnetic fringe field all have to be assessed before a system is ordered, not after it arrives. We handle installation, rigging and de-installation ourselves. For island projects, freight, import handling and engineer travel are planned in from the start, which is covered in our notes on MRI installation in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
If you are replacing rather than adding, the system you are retiring may be worth something against the new one. We also buy used imaging equipment.
How Much Does a Used MRI Machine Cost?
A refurbished MRI machine generally runs 40 to 60 per cent below the new price of the same platform, which is why most facilities buying their second or third system buy refurbished. The refurbished columns in the table above are our current ranges.
What you give up against new is the newest software generation and a long factory warranty. What you gain is a large reduction in price on a platform whose behaviour is well understood. The words matter though, because refurbished versus OEM certified are not the same thing and do not carry the same obligations. Current stock is in the MRI systems we carry.
What MRI Coils Do You Need, and What Do They Cost?
Coils are the part of an MRI most often left out of a comparison, and they are a large share of what you are buying. The magnet creates the field. The coils receive the signal. A system quoted with three coils and the same system quoted with eight are not the same purchase.
- Compatibility Coils are specific to the platform and often to the software version. A coil from a different generation may not work at all
- Channel count More receive channels means more coil elements read at once, which generally means better signal and faster imaging
- Phased array Multiple small elements combined, which gives better signal than a single large coil over the same anatomy
- Anatomy coverage Head, neck, spine, body, shoulder, knee, wrist, breast and cardiac coils are all separate items
- Condition Coils are handled every day and dropped occasionally, so they are the component most often damaged in service
Ask for the coil list in writing with the quote, including channel counts, and ask what a replacement costs for the two you would use most. Coil repair is usually cheaper than replacement, and it is work we do as part of service and repairs. The NEMA standards catalogue is where the measurement conventions for MR image quality are published, if you want to compare like with like.
How Much Helium Does an MRI Machine Use?
A superconducting magnet is kept superconducting by liquid helium, and how much it uses depends almost entirely on the age and design of that specific magnet. This is one of the biggest differences between a system that is cheap to own and one that is not.
- Older magnets Boil off continuously and need scheduled refills
- Modern zero boil-off designs Recondense helium internally and consume very little in normal operation
- Sealed low-helium designs Some current systems use a fraction of the helium of a conventional magnet
- The cold head A wear part. When it degrades, boil-off rises
- The chiller Runs continuously. If it fails, helium starts leaving
We deliberately do not publish a boil-off rate here, because an honest figure is a property of the individual magnet and its service history rather than a general average. Tell us the system and we will give you the real one. Cryogenics and helium is a standing service line for us, including on systems bought elsewhere.
If you want the mechanism rather than the summary, our guide to what an MRI quench is covers what actually happens and why the vent matters. Helium is a finite globally traded commodity, and supply has been volatile, which is worth factoring into a ten year ownership plan.
What Size Room Does an MRI Need?
MRI budgets are won or lost on siting, not on the machine. A CT needs a lead lined room and power. An MRI needs considerably more, and it needs it decided before the system is ordered.
- RF shielded enclosure A room within the room. Copper and galvanised steel are both used, and the choice affects cost and construction
- Magnetic fringe field The five gauss line has to fall inside space you control, which constrains what can be on the other side of every wall, floor and ceiling
- Floor loading A magnet is heavy and the figure that matters is the one on that model’s site planning drawing
- Quench vent A pipe to outside air, routed so a discharge is safe. This has no equivalent on any other modality
- Chiller and mechanical Plant space, water and power
- The route in Door widths, corridors, lift capacity, and whether a wall has to be opened or a crane used
We do not publish a standard room size, because the honest answer comes from the manufacturer site planning drawing for the specific system, and those differ substantially between a compact 1.5T and a 3T. Send us the model and the floor plan and we will tell you whether it fits. Installation, rigging and siting is work we do ourselves, and island projects add freight, import handling and engineer travel on top.
Which MRI Manufacturer Should You Choose?
Four manufacturers dominate the installed base worldwide, and a used market exists around all of them. What matters for a buyer is not which badge is best in the abstract but which platform is still supported, which coils and software you can still get, and who can service it where you are.
- GE Very large installed base, deep used market and wide parts availability
- Siemens Large installed base, strong wide bore lineage
- Philips Large installed base, strong in advanced applications
- Fujifilm Acquired the Hitachi medical systems business, so the AIRIS, APERTO, OASIS and ECHELON lines sit here now. This is the range we supply
- Esaote The specialist in dedicated extremity and weight-bearing systems, which the big four do not really cover
- Canon Formerly Toshiba, a smaller but established presence
Our own range is Fujifilm and Esaote. On the Fujifilm side that runs from the AIRIS Vento 0.3T open and APERTO Lucent through the OASIS Velocity CPO 1.2T open and OASIS Velocity, to the 1.5T ECHELON Smart, ECHELON Smart with SynergyDrive, ECHELON Smart ZeroHelium and the ECHELON Synergy. Everything currently available is in the MRI machines category.
What Should You Include When You Buy an MRI?
The gap between a cheap quote and an expensive one is usually scope rather than machine. These are the items that get left out and then reappear as change orders.
- The coil set you actually need Not the coils that happen to be with the system
- Chiller Sometimes quoted separately, always required
- Applications training What decides whether the system is used properly in its first month
- Contrast injector If your protocols need one
- Patient positioning pads and accessories Small money, genuinely annoying to be without
- Site planning support Drawings, fringe field plot, structural and shielding input
- First helium fill and ramp up
- Warranty term and what it covers Specifically whether coils and the cold head are included
- Service contract pricing Agreed before you sign, not after
We include delivery, placement, installation and applications training as part of the job, and quote structural and shielding work per project because it depends on the building. Delivery and logistics covers how the transport side works.
What Does End of Life Mean for an MRI Scanner?
An MRI magnet can run for a very long time. What ends a system is almost never the magnet. It is support.
- End of sale The manufacturer stops selling it new. No effect on you
- End of support Software updates and manufacturer service stop. Third party service usually continues
- End of parts The real constraint. When a critical part is no longer made and the used pool dries up, the system becomes a risk
This is why platform support status matters more than year of manufacture when you compare two used systems. A newer system on a dead platform is a worse buy than an older one that everybody still stocks parts for. Ask the question before the invoice, because the answer does not change afterwards.
Software is a live part of this too. SwiftMR is an example of the other direction, where AI based image enhancement can lift throughput and image quality on a system you already own rather than replacing it.
What Does It Cost to Move or De-install an MRI?
Moving an MRI is a project, not a delivery. The magnet has to be ramped down or transported cold, the RF enclosure usually has to be dealt with, and the route out is the same problem as the route in but with less flexibility.
- Ramp down and cryogen handling Or a cold move, which is faster but has its own requirements
- Rigging Frequently a crane or a wall opening at both ends
- RF enclosure Dismantling, and whether it is reusable
- Transport Specialist, and for island work freight and customs on top
- Reinstallation Siting at the destination has to satisfy the same requirements as a new install
It is quoted per project because it depends on two buildings rather than one machine. We do this work ourselves rather than subcontracting it, which is the main reason our de-installation and rigging quotes tend to hold. If you are replacing rather than relocating, we also buy used imaging equipment, and full facility projects are something we run end to end.
MRI Safety: What Does the Always-On Magnet Change?
The single fact that governs MRI safety is that the magnetic field is never switched off. It is on during the night, during a power cut and during a fire.
- Zoning Access is controlled in graded zones, with screening before anyone enters the magnet room
- Ferromagnetic objects Oxygen cylinders, trolleys, tools and cleaning equipment are the classic projectile hazards
- Implants and devices Screened case by case against manufacturer conditions
- Hearing protection Gradient switching is loud
- Quench procedure Staff have to know what a quench looks like and what to do
The ACR radiology safety resources are the standard programme level reference, the RadiologyInfo page on MR safety is the plain language version, and the FDA page on MRI benefits and risks covers the regulatory view. For the physics behind it, the NIBIB explainer on MRI is a good neutral summary and the ISMRM is the field’s professional society.
Extremity, Open and Weight-Bearing MRI
Not every MRI is a whole body cylinder, and for some practices a dedicated system is both cheaper and better suited than a share of a general scanner.
Extremity MRI
A small bore system that images hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet only. Far cheaper to buy, far simpler to site, and much easier for the patient because nothing goes inside a tunnel. For an orthopaedic or sports medicine practice it can carry the whole musculoskeletal caseload. The Esaote O Scan and Esaote S Scan are the systems we supply here.
Weight-bearing MRI
The Esaote G Scan tilts, so the patient can be scanned standing and loaded as well as lying down. For spine and knee work that changes what you can see, because some findings only appear under load. We installed the first of these in Grand Cayman.
Open MRI
Open systems trade field strength for access, which suits claustrophobic, paediatric and bariatric patients. Our guides to open versus closed MRI and wide bore systems cover that decision properly, and the MRI versus CT comparison covers the modality decision above it.
Veterinary MRI
Veterinary practices buy the same systems, usually refurbished, and are often well served by extremity or open designs. The siting requirements are identical, because the physics does not care about the patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does an MRI machine cost?
- An MRI machine costs from $300,000 for a refurbished open or low-field system up to $3.7 million for a new 3T. A refurbished 1.5T, the most common configuration in practice, runs $475,000 to $975,000. These are system prices; siting, shielding and installation are quoted per project.
- How much is an MRI machine in the USA?
- The same ranges apply. A refurbished 1.5T MRI machine runs $475,000 to $975,000 and a new one $1,200,000 to $2,000,000. What moves the number inside those bands is bore size, the coil set, channel count and which software packages are licensed.
- What is the price of a magnetic resonance imaging machine?
- Magnetic resonance imaging machine cost is set first by field strength. Open and low-field systems start around $300,000 refurbished, 1.5T systems from $475,000 refurbished, and 3T systems from $1,000,000 refurbished. New systems run considerably higher in each class.
- How much do MRI machines cost to buy refurbished?
- A refurbished MRI machine generally runs 40 to 60 per cent below the new price of the same platform. Refurbishment restores a system to its original specification rather than upgrading it, so image quality on the same platform is the same.
- How much does a 1.5T MRI machine cost?
- A refurbished 1.5T MRI machine runs $475,000 to $975,000, and a new one $1,200,000 to $2,000,000. 1.5T is the workhorse field strength for general clinical imaging and it is the most common configuration we supply.
- How much does a 3T MRI machine cost?
- A refurbished 3T MRI machine runs $1,000,000 to $1,900,000, and a new one $2,100,000 to $3,700,000. 3T suits neuro, musculoskeletal and research work where signal to noise matters most.
- How much does an open MRI machine cost?
- An open or low-field MRI machine runs $300,000 to $525,000 refurbished and $600,000 to $950,000 new. Open systems suit claustrophobic, paediatric and bariatric patients, and they trade some image quality for access.
- What affects the price of an MRI machine?
- Field strength first, then bore size, the coil set, channel count and licensed software packages. After that, magnet condition and helium history, and whether the platform is still supported with parts and software. The coil set is the factor buyers most often overlook when comparing quotes.
- How much does it cost to run an MRI machine?
- The recurring costs are cryogens, cold head and chiller maintenance, the service contract, continuous power draw, coil repair and accreditation. An honest figure depends on the specific magnet, its age, its duty cycle and where it is installed, so we quote it against your system rather than publishing an average.
- Does the MRI machine price include installation and shielding?
- No. The figures quoted are system prices. Freight and rigging, RF shielded enclosure, chiller and mechanical work, structural work, the first helium fill and applications training are quoted per project, because they depend entirely on the building.
- What is the difference between a 1.5T and a 3T MRI?
- 3T has roughly twice the field strength of 1.5T, which means a better signal to noise ratio and either faster scans or higher resolution. 1.5T is more forgiving with implants and artefacts, cheaper to buy and cheaper to run. Most general clinical work is done at 1.5T.
- What is an open MRI?
- An open MRI uses a magnet that is open at the sides rather than a closed cylindrical bore, so the patient is not enclosed. It suits claustrophobic, paediatric and bariatric patients. Open systems run at lower field strengths, so image quality is generally below a closed 1.5T.
- Is a refurbished MRI machine worth it?
- For most buyers yes. Refurbishment restores a system to its original specification, so image quality on the same platform is identical to new. You give up the newest software generation and a long factory warranty, and you save 40 to 60 per cent.
- How long does an MRI machine last?
- Well maintained systems commonly run for well over a decade. The limiting factor is usually software and parts support rather than the magnet itself, which is why platform support status matters more than year of manufacture when you are comparing two used systems.
- How much does MRI installation cost?
- It is quoted per project, because it depends on the building rather than the machine. The variables are the route in, whether a wall has to be opened or a crane used, floor loading, the RF shielded enclosure, chiller and mechanical work, and the first helium fill. Have the site assessed before you order a system.
- What is the difference between an MRI and a CT scan?
- An MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves and involves no ionising radiation. A CT uses X-rays and is much faster. MRI is better for soft tissue, brain, spine and musculoskeletal detail; CT is better for acute trauma, bone and chest imaging, and it is the practical choice when speed matters.
- How much does an MRI scanner cost?
- The same as an MRI machine, because they are the same equipment. A refurbished MRI scanner runs from $300,000 for an open or low-field system, $475,000 for a 1.5 Tesla and $1,000,000 for a 3 Tesla. New systems run considerably higher in each class.
- What is the average cost of an MRI machine?
- An average is misleading here, because the three field-strength classes barely overlap. A refurbished open system and a new 3 Tesla are an order of magnitude apart. The useful number is the range for the class you actually need, which is what the table above gives.
- How much does an MRI machine weigh?
- It varies by field strength, magnet design and manufacturer, and the figure that matters is the one on that model’s site planning drawing rather than a general average. Magnet weight drives floor loading, the route in and whether a crane or a wall opening is needed, so it is assessed from the manufacturer’s drawing before a system is ordered.
- What are MRI coils and why do they matter to the price?
- Coils receive the signal that becomes the image. They are specific to the platform, they come in sets covering different anatomy, and they carry a large share of a system’s value. A system quoted with three coils is not comparable to the same system quoted with eight, so ask for the coil list and channel counts in writing.
- How many channels should an MRI have?
- More receive channels means more coil elements read at once, which generally means better signal and faster imaging. What you actually need depends on your caseload rather than on the biggest number available. A high channel count is wasted if the coils to use it are not included.
- How much helium does an MRI machine use?
- It depends on the magnet. Older designs boil off continuously and need scheduled refills. Modern zero boil-off magnets recondense helium internally and use very little in normal operation. The honest figure is a property of the individual magnet and its service history, so we quote it against your system rather than publishing an average.
- What is a zero boil-off MRI magnet?
- A magnet with a cryocooler that recondenses helium back into the vessel instead of letting it escape, so in normal operation consumption is close to zero. It depends on the cold head and chiller working, which is why those are the components to keep on a maintenance schedule.
- When should an MRI cold head be replaced?
- The cold head is a wear part, and a rising boil-off rate is the usual first sign that it is degrading. Replacing it on schedule is far cheaper than losing a helium charge, which is why cold head condition belongs in a service conversation rather than an emergency.
- What size room does an MRI need?
- It comes from the manufacturer’s site planning drawing for that specific system, and a compact 1.5T and a 3T differ substantially. The constraints are the RF shielded enclosure, where the five gauss fringe field line falls, floor loading, the quench vent route and plant space for the chiller. Send us the model and the floor plan.
- What is RF shielding and does an MRI need it?
- Yes. An RF shielded enclosure is a room built inside the room that keeps outside radio frequency noise out of the images. Copper and galvanised steel are both used and the choice affects cost and construction. It is quoted per project because it is construction, not equipment.
- What is the five gauss line?
- The boundary around the magnet where the fringe field falls to five gauss. It has to sit inside space you control, which constrains what can be on the other side of every wall, floor and ceiling. It is plotted at site planning, not discovered at installation.
- Does an MRI need a quench vent?
- Yes. A quench pipe routes a helium discharge to outside air on a route that stays safe if it ever happens. It has no equivalent on any other imaging modality and it has to be designed into the room.
- Which MRI manufacturer is best?
- There is no single best. GE, Siemens and Philips have the largest installed bases and therefore the deepest used and parts markets. Fujifilm holds the former Hitachi lines, which is the range we supply, and Esaote specialises in extremity and weight-bearing systems. What matters is which platform is still supported and who can service it where you are.
- What should be included when buying an MRI machine?
- The coil set you actually need, chiller, applications training, site planning support, first helium fill and ramp up, patient pads and accessories, a contrast injector if your protocols need one, and a warranty whose terms you have read. Agree service contract pricing before signing rather than after.
- What does end of life mean for an MRI scanner?
- Three different things. End of sale means it is no longer sold new and affects you not at all. End of support means manufacturer software and service stop, though third party service usually continues. End of parts is the real constraint, and it is why platform support status matters more than year of manufacture.
- How long does an MRI magnet last?
- Magnets routinely run for well over a decade and often much longer. Systems are retired because parts and software support end, not because the magnet fails. That is the question to ask about any used system you are considering.
- How much does it cost to move an MRI machine?
- It is quoted per project, because it depends on two buildings rather than one machine. The variables are ramp down or a cold move, rigging and whether a crane or wall opening is needed at either end, the RF enclosure, specialist transport, and reinstallation which has to satisfy the same siting requirements as a new install.
- Can you de-install and relocate an MRI for us?
- Yes, and we do the rigging ourselves rather than subcontracting it. That includes inspection, disconnection, ramp down where required, packaging, rigging, loading and reinstallation at the destination, including to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
- Is an MRI safe?
- MRI uses no ionising radiation, which is its main safety advantage. The risks are different in kind: the magnetic field is never switched off, so ferromagnetic objects become projectiles and implants have to be screened case by case. Facilities manage this with controlled zones and screening before anyone enters the magnet room.
- What is an extremity MRI?
- A small bore system that images joints only, so hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet. It is far cheaper to buy and far simpler to site than a whole body system, and the patient is never inside a tunnel. For an orthopaedic or sports medicine practice it can carry the entire musculoskeletal caseload.
- What is a weight-bearing MRI?
- A system that tilts so the patient can be scanned standing and loaded as well as lying down. Some spine and knee findings only appear under load, which a conventional supine scan cannot show. The Esaote G Scan is the weight-bearing system we supply.
- Can we buy an MRI for a veterinary practice?
- Yes. Veterinary practices buy the same systems, usually refurbished, and are often well served by extremity or open designs. The siting requirements are identical, because the physics does not care about the patient.
- Do you service MRI machines you did not sell?
- Yes. Service, cryogenics and coil repair are separate lines of work from sales, and a good deal of what we look after was bought elsewhere. Ask about territory and platform before assuming coverage.
From open and 1.5T to 3T systems, Medical Outfitters helps you spec, buy, or lease the right MRI, new or certified refurbished. Serving the US, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
