Philips in research deal with MagCorp to explore magnets for MR scanners

Royal Philips entered into a research partnership with U.S. magnet solutions provider MagCorp to explore superconducting magnets for MR scanners that do not require cooling to ultra-low temperatures,-452 degrees F or -269 degrees C, using liquid helium. Developing more sustainable alternatives to helium-cooled MRI magnets at a lower cost has the potential to offer significant benefits by making advanced MR imaging available to more patients in more diverse settings as well as potentially reducing radiology department capital and operating costs. "Florida State University’s MagLab, part of the U.S. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, is home to many of the world’s leading researchers on novel superconducting materials that don’t require liquid helium temperatures to operate. Philips has decades of MR scanner design and development experience, including most recently the launch of the BlueSeal magnet technology," said Josh Hilderbrand, Director, Head of MRI Magnet Research and Development at Philips. "Combining these resources with MagCorp’s research facilitation services will help leverage the latest technology to accelerate access and availability of MRI to more patients and healthcare providers."