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Philips MRI system lifecycle management


Now is the ideal time to consider your options and prepare for the future of medical imaging. Philips offers several ways to keep you at the cutting edge of technology:

  • Tailored upgrades and renovation programs
  • Migrating to more efficient technologies, such as BlueSeal
  • Lifecycle services to support optimum usage and functioning (operational, clinical and economic)
  • Access to customer success stories and experiences

Being proactive about change is essential to always provide top service and position your institution as a leader in clinical innovation.

How an MRI system evolves

To understand how MRI systems evolve and when it’s time to renew them, it is useful to look at the complete lifecycle of an MRI system and their expected service life.

  • Development and research: This phase focuses on improving image quality, scan speed, and user experience through advances in magnet strength, coil development and new software solutions.
  • Installation and integration: MRI systems are implemented in medical centers, customized to meet local needs (tailored for local conditions). The implementation presents a chance to evaluate and enhance current clinical workflows, enabling medical teams (to take necessary actions) to achieve higher productivity and proper integration (into clinical processes).
  • Operation and maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential for sustained performance, monitoring the magnet, cooling systems, and mechanical components.
  • Lifecycle offerings like Upgrade and refurbishment: Over time, new features and improvements can be added through hardware and software upgrades, extending the system’s lifespan and keeping equipment up to date, to address your needs/ambitions and assure optimum usage and functioning.
  • Replacement at end of life: When the system no longer meets current standards, it is to be replaced, following responsible recycling and disposal practices.

Usually, the MRI lifecycle is divided into four main stages:

  1. Initial installation with state-of-the-art technology
  2. Minor and software upgrades within the first 2 to 7 year
  3. Major hardware upgrades to extend service life from between 7 to 10 years
  4. System replacement at around year 12 if no significant improvements have been made
Video Evolution of Philips MRI

Evolution of Philips Magnetic Resonance Imaging

International recommendations, such as those from the European Society of Radiology (ESR), suggest replacing systems that are over 10 years old [1], while CoCIR [2] recommends that no more than 10% of operating MRI systems in the market be older than a decade. This is also backed by the knowledge that MRI systems typically depreciate in cycles of 5 to 7 years [3].

Why replace an old MRI

Although keeping old equipment may seem convenient, there are hidden risks:

  • Increased operational and financial costs: Older equipment requires more maintenance and is more likely to fail, increasing expenses and downtime.
  • Reduced revenue and competitiveness: Obsolete equipment may discourage patients and limit the types of studies that can be offered. Integration challenges: Older technology often struggles to connect with modern digital health systems.
  • Clinical limitations: Higher failure rates, slower scans, lower image quality and potential diagnostic delays.
  • Regulatory and reputation issues: Audits or reporting requirements may expose the use of old equipment, affecting perception on performance, patient safety, and competitiveness.
Video from legacy to BlueSeal at Vida Imaging

From legacy to Philips BlueSeal

Continuous innovation and sustainability in Philips MRI

Today, innovations in MRI clinical applications, like advanced brain mapping and real-time cardiac imaging, make these systems essential tools. Staying at the technological forefront means increasing the quality and efficiency of care. Focus on enhancing the experience of both patients and staff. With streamline imaging workflows and automated clinical insights to produce faster, accurate diagnoses for better patient outcomes [3,4].

Sustainability is also a core principle for Philips: our decisions aim to reduce energy use, minimize helium consumption, cut waste, and extend product life through SmartPath upgrade programs, refurbishment, and recycling. Since 2003, our portfolio has included circular equipment, and since 2014, system lifetime extension solutions [5].

Footnotes
  1. Renewal of radiological equipment European Society of Radiology (ESR)
  2. https://www.cocir.org/publication/cocir-medical-imaging-equipment-age-profile-density-2023- edition-2
  3. MR SmartSpeed fast imaging technology - Philips
  4. https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/press/2020/20200312-philips-becomes-first-medical-device-manufacturer-granted-new-underwriters-laboratories-product-cybersecurity-testing-firm-registration.html
  5. https://www.results.philips.com/publications/ar24 (Page 4, 41, 166, 196, 184)
Disclaimer
Results are specific to the institution where they were obtained and may not reflect the results achievable at other institutions. Results in other cases may vary.