Philips Signs Research Agreement to Explore New Magnet Technologies
30 Novembro 2022 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
- Collaboration with leading material scientists focuses on the
use of high-temperature superconductors to make MR imaging more
affordable, accessible and sustainable in the future
- Operating at higher temperatures and eliminating the use of
liquid helium during both production and operation could reduce the
size, weight and cost of MRI scanners, increasing accessibility
across all patient communities and bringing advanced diagnostic
imaging closer to a first line diagnostic tool
- Following the first-to-market introduction of BlueSeal, Philips
leads the market in sealed (helium-free operations) MR magnet
technology
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health
technology, has 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 °F or -269 °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.
Patient benefit and sustainability
Operating at higher temperatures closer to ambient room
temperature and eliminating liquid helium from both the production
and operation of MRI scanners provides two major advantages. First,
it decreases energy consumption required to sustain operation and
reduces dependence on a finite and increasingly scarce natural
resource, produced largely as a by-product of fossil-fuel (natural
gas) extraction. Conventional MRI scanners often vent helium, which
once released into the atmosphere escapes into outer space never to
be seen again. Second, and just as important, it has the potential
to reduce the size, weight and costs of MRI scanners. As a result,
MRI’s superior diagnostic and functional imaging capabilities –
notably its excellent soft-tissue imaging and absence of ionizing
X-ray radiation – could be enjoyed by a larger number of patients,
expanding access into underserved communities. The partnership
between Philips and MagCorp is being launched to help realize these
two major advantages.
“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.”
“MagCorp is proud of this partnership, which brings together
Philips' game-changing BlueSeal magnet technology and the FSU
MagLab’s unrivaled knowledge base about superconductors that can
operate in a helium-free environment," said Jeff Whalen, Director
of MagCorp. "Combining Philips' forward-thinking approach with FSU
MagLab's scientists, who have a wealth of relevant expertise in the
application of new superconductors, means Philips will be in the
best position to develop innovations around this technology,"
Whalen said.
From helium-free in operation to helium-free end to
end
With the introduction of its BlueSeal magnet technology in 2018,
Philips already has a commercially available non-venting MRI
scanner in widespread use that once charged with a small amount of
helium (7 liters instead of a conventional scanner’s 1,500 liters)
are sealed and operate without requiring additional helium for
their entire operational life. Clinical MRI scanners that
completely eliminate the need for helium are a clear direction for
innovation in the long term. Using high-temperature superconductors
supports a complete shift towards helium independence.
The research partnership will focus on characterizing and
demonstrating the feasibility of appropriate superconducting
materials capable of operating at higher temperatures than today’s
niobium-based superconductors. In common with helium, niobium is
also a scarce element, whereas some of the new materials being
investigated by the research team are based on more abundant
elements. In addition to basic materials research, the team will
also investigate the steps needed to commercialize the materials,
and the technologies needed to enable their use in future MRI
scanners.
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health
technology company focused on improving people's health and
well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health
continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis,
treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and
deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated
solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a
leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient
monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health
and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and
employs approximately 79,000 employees with sales and services in
more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at
www.philips.com/newscenter.
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Avi Dines Philips North America Tel: 781-690-3814 Email:
avi.dines@philips.com
Skip Foster Hammerhead Communications Email:
skip@hammerhead.agency Tel: 704-473-0531
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