3 Common MRI System Problems

Do you have a magnetic resonance imaging or MRI device at your facility? It's vital to familiarize yourself with the common problems that this machine faces, so you know how to troubleshoot them or when to call a maintenance professional. Here are some issues you may encounter.

Power Outages and Surges

Sometimes your MRI system will suddenly malfunction, restart, or even shut down completely. This may be a result of sudden power outages, often caused by lightning storms or problems with your service provider. These will interrupt the flow of electricity to the machine, impairing its functionality. One quick way to resolve this is to reset the breakers that were tripped during the disturbance so that the circuitry can be reconnected and energy can go through.

There are times when the outage is caused by a current surge. This is more dangerous because the overflow of electricity can actually permanently damage your machinery. To prevent this from happening you can choose to buy an uninterruptible power supply or UPS device. This blocks strong currents from going through and, at the same time, provides continuous energy to your machine in the event of an electrical disturbance. Ask the manufacturer which type is best for your particular model.

Depleted Helium Levels

This is a problem that, thankfully, your MRI can alert you about. Liquid helium is a cooling agent used for the magnetic coils in its system. The machine needs to have a substantial amount of it to keep working. When the device's heat management features aren't functioning properly, this may cause this fluid to burn up faster than usual, resulting in a drastically depleted supply.

To avoid this issue, assign someone in your facility to frequently check the amount of helium left in your MRI and schedule a refill once it's at about 50%. If they notice that it's depleting at an accelerated rate, get it replenished as soon as possible and arrange a consultation with a technician to figure out the problem.

Heat Exchanger Issues

When your machine doesn't cool down properly, it may automatically lock and stop functioning to prevent it from overheating. This often means that there's an issue with either its heat exchanger or chilling system. Any problems with these can result in inadequate heat management for the device.

First, see if its heat exchanger is functioning. Its display shouldn't be lit, and the breaker should be set. If everything looks normal, then you should check the water supply. If the tubing doesn't feel cold to the touch, then the issue lies with your chiller not providing the cooling liquid with the right temperature.

These are just some of the most common problems with these devices. Whether you have issues with the MRI machine chiller or power supply, you should contact a maintenance contractor ASAP to prevent any damage to the system.

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kktchillersusa Joined: June 25th, 2018