Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

Since first publishing this article in 2015, thousands more people have come to us with a wide variety of MRI needs and, depending on what those needs were, we've directed them to many different models from many different manufacturers. Why? Not all MRI scanners perform equally across all of the aspects that users value.

To help you build an idea of what to expect, we'll share some of the big considerations we've seen buyers grapple with. Individual cases vary but, in our experience and the experiences our partners have shared with us, the following are a snapshot of what each of these "major player" MRI manufacturers looks like on the third-party market.

Click here to see current MRI machine inventory and get a custom quote.

If your facility is in the market for an extremity MRI scanner, one of the first questions that probably came to your mind was, "How much does an extremity MRI machine cost?" Considering that these systems come in four different categories that can range widely in price this is an excellent question- one that we'll answer in our 2020 update to the extremity MRI machine pricing chart below.

Have a model in mind? Click here to view our current extremity MRI inventory.

More and more, we hear from GE 1.5T MRI users who prefer the idea of keeping their current magnet and upgrading its electronics and software instead of replacing it entirely. There are plenty of reasons (at least seven) to go that route, but what they really want to know is how much more performance they'll get.

To help GE MRI users better understand the functionality they'll gain at each upgrade level, we put our heads together with our friends at Signature MRI to break down features and options for 9X, 12X, 15X/16X, and 23X scanners with CXK4 magnets.

Anyone considering the purchase of an MRI machine should know that a healthy cooling system is essential to the maintenance and performance of their magnet. This means, among other things, keeping an eye on your helium level and getting refills at the proper time. Unfortunately, because there are so many different types of magnets in use today, and each of them experiences helium loss (AKA, boil-off) at a different rate, there is no one-size-fits-all prescription for when this needs to happen.

To help those of you comparing magnets and those of you looking to keep your existing magnet healthy, we've compiled helium boil-off rates and average refill costs for the top six magnets on the secondary market. These are the magnet types we see most often as a provider of used/refurbished MRI machines. Also included are a few pointers on refill rates and recommendations.

Need a helium refill for your MRI machine now? Click here to tell our team your MRI service needs.

Looking for a 1.5T GE MRI machine? Great! Now, which model do you choose? What makes the most sense for your MRI project, and your MRI budget?

By now, you’ve probably realized that making sense of the different models offered by each manufacturer can be a daunting task, and GE is certainly no exception. Let’s take a look under the hood and break down the most popular 1.5T GE MRI models, starting with the newest.

Have a model in mind already? Click here to browse our inventory of MRI machines.