Are you looking for a 1.5T closed bore MRI? Philips is one of the most popular brands, with the Philips Ingenia and Philips Achieva being top considerations. 
Let’s take a close look at both and see which one might be right for you.
Philips Achieva 1.5T MRI
Philips introduced the Achieva 1.5T in the early 2000s and many of those sold are still in use today. You get the performance you want, replacement parts are easily available and you’ll find excellent independent service options. In addition, upgrade parts are available.
The Philips Achieva uses a F2000 magnet with a 60cm bore with field of view at 53 X 53 X 48.. While it’s not a true zero boil-off magnet, it is extremely efficient. With an average boil off of 1% monthly, the Achieve only need refilling every three years or so. There are a wide variety of whole-body software options. Gradients are powerful—from 33mT/m amplitude and 150 slew rate and possibly up to 66mT/m and 180 slew. RF channel options are 8, 16 and 32ch. Achieva is a solid choice thanks to its lower market share, efficient zero boil-off magnet technology and ease of shipment. It also has a relatively high install base.
Since it boils off helium at a much lower rate than other magnets when it is off power, the F2000 is ideal if it’s going to be shipped international. Shipping costs are reasonable. Just top off the magnet with helium and ship it via ocean instead of costly air transport.
Philips Ingenia 1.5T MRI
The Philips Ingenia 1.5T was the first all-digital MRI System and hit the market in 2010. It uses a 70cm core magnet with zero boil-off technology and no refills are required. Unlike other 70cm bore magnets, it retains an excellent field of view at 55 X 55 X 50. It also has powerful gradients, with up to 45mt/m and 200 slew rate. However, third-party service options for the Philips Ingenia are rare. You usually have to use OEM service, which is more expensive. You won’t find them often on the secondary market because they are substantially different from other models and their user-rating is high.
What sets the Ingenia 1.5T apart is its digital technology. It’s a truly “RF channel independent” system and a completely new set of analog coils. These pick up the signal from the patient, with the data reconstructed into an image. The analog-to-digital converter is located inside the coil where the signal is the strongest. All of this signal travels through one fiber optic cable, regardless of the number of elements in the coil. This means the number of RF channels become irrelevant (8, 16, 32 in typical systems). This simplifies the architecture dramatically and allows for fewer components and lower power consumption. In addition, you get better signal-to-noise ration by as much as 40%, which delivers better image quality and faster speeds. This “dStream” technology isn’t widely available yet, but the possibility of future upgrades for Achieva systems does exist.
Talk to an Expert
If you’re looking for a reliable, proven system with easy access to parts and service, low helium consumption and a lower cash outlay, the Achieva 1.5T is a solid choice. If you prefer streamline architecture, zero boil-off, speed and image quality—and you can afford OEM service—the Ingenia is probably a better pick. That said, it’s always wise to talk to an expert like Atlantis Worldwide. We’ve been helping clients with their refurbished and used medical imaging needs for more than 28 years and would love to assist you.
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Meet the author: Vikki Harmonay
