Tech Trends
Setting Helium Free
New technology from GE Healthcare significantly
reduces MR magnet reliance on Helium
‡
T echnology in development that
represents ongoing research and
development efforts. These
technologies are not products
and may never become products.
Not for sale. Not cleared or approved
by the U.S. FDA or any other global
regulator for commercial availability.
GEHEALTHCARE.COM/MR
Helium, the second most abundant element
in the universe, is relatively rare on Earth. Its
growing demand and finite supply led to a
shortage in 2015, affecting several industries
such as high-tech manufacturing. Although
shortages have moderated since then, helium
isn’t infinite and efforts to conserve, catch,
and recycle it are ongoing throughout the
scientific community.
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According to Stuart Feltham, PhD, MR
technology, where helium would remain
of liquid helium is in the cooling of
Magnet & Gradient Coil CoE Leader at
with the system and be re-condensed
superconducting magnets to -269°
GE Healthcare, what makes Freelium
back into it.1,2
Celsius (-452° Fahrenheit). Each
truly unique is not just the significant
superconducting magnet currently in
reduction in the dependence on helium,
clinical MR use relies on thousands
but also the magnet design.
of liters of liquid helium to keep the
magnets at this temperature—so
clinicians can generate high-definition
images of a patient’s brain, vital organs,
or soft tissues.
“Freelium is completely self-contained
The development project for Freelium
was an extensive collaboration
between GE Healthcare’s Global
Research Center (GRC, Niskayuna, NY)
and sealed,” Dr. Feltham explains. “We
and the GE Healthcare magnet facility
avoid a number of challenges that we
in Florence, SC. Much of that work is
see today with traditional MR magnets:
embodied in more than 20 patents
The need to refill the magnet when we
that encompass the overall technology
Recognizing the need to reduce the
arrive on site to install and the need
embedded in the design, Dr. Jarvis says.
consumption of helium, GE Healthcare
to provide venting of the helium out
scientists and engineers in Florence, SC,
of the building whenever the magnet
have been working on a revolutionary
is ramped up or down. So, we are
technology in development: the
essentially freeing ourselves from
Freelium™‡ magnet, designed to use just
the constraints of helium.”
one percent of liquid helium compared
to conventional magnets. So, instead of
using 2,000 liters of precious liquid helium,
Freelium only uses about 20 liters.
‡ Technology in development that represents ongoing research
and development efforts. These technologies are not products
and may never become products. Not for sale. Not cleared
or approved by the U.S. FDA or any other global regulator for
commercial availability.
GESIGNAPULSE.COM
“While there is a difference internally,
apart from the absence of the vent
stack, one wouldn’t be able to tell the
difference,” Dr. Jarvis adds. “Freelium
should perform identically to the
GE Healthcare has long been an
commercially available magnets that
innovator in the field of cryogenics,
GE Healthcare has produced tens of
adds Peter Jarvis, PhD, Chief Engineer,
thousands of over the last few decades.
Magnets, at GE Healthcare. In the late
We intend there will be no limitation in
1990s, GE Healthcare was the first
performance or MR applications—and
company to introduce zero boil-off
that is critical.”
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Tech Trends
One of the largest industrial uses
“
This presents a major change in MR; with Freelium our
customers won’t have to worry about supply and logistics.
The lifetime savings and the potential for total cost of
ownership benefits will likely be significant.
„
Dr. Peter Jarvis
The significant reduction in the use
Further, in some areas of the world, it
customers won’t have to worry about
of liquid helium for Freelium also
may be difficult to transport helium to
supply and logistics. The lifetime
addresses two other important issues:
the imaging site, which limits access to
savings and the potential for total
cost and access to MR systems.
MR imaging for many patients who may
cost of ownership benefits will likely
need it. For example, Dr. Feltham says
be significant.”
Zhenyu Zhang, Architect, GE Healthcare,
explains, “With Freelium, once the
cryogenic system is filled, that is the
last time it will consume helium. We
will not only significantly reduce the
consumption of helium, but also all
the logistics and associated costs
around helium transportation.”
Market volatility also impacts the cost
of helium. During the recent shortage,
the cost for helium skyrocketed,
adding an additional financial burden
for hospitals and imaging centers. It’s
this market volatility in a commodity
and associated uncertainty in cost,
Dr. Feltham says, that facilities can
avoid with Freelium.
Even with zero boil-off technology in
conventional MR magnets, a certain
amount of helium will evaporate while
the unit is in transit to the site. The
farther away the imaging site is from
the manufacturing site, the more
helium that dissipates. This increases
the associated cost of the magnet
that in Bermuda, not far off the coast of
the U.S., it can take two to three weeks
to schedule and receive helium, and the
site will receive less helium than what
it paid for due to transit losses. Zhang
adds that the cost of helium is variably
priced around the world.
Dr. Jarvis explains that siting costs
for an MR may also be reduced with
Freelium since no extensive venting or
exhaust equipment is needed. While
there may be a preferred location
within a hospital to site an MR system,
the cost for a helium exhaust capability
can make that location unfeasible.
“Freelium provides the freedom to
construction, and access to helium,
Dr. Feltham sees a greater purpose for
Freelium technology; increasing access
to MR imaging worldwide.
“We are forever striving for greater
access to MR for more people,” Dr.
Feltham says. “Nearly 70 percent of
the world’s population does not have
access to MR imaging. We believe we
are doing the right thing for healthcare
with the introduction of Freelium. It
was a massive team effort, and it
never ceases to amaze me the support
we get from GE Healthcare and the
effort and creativity of the engineers
position the MR suite where it makes
and supporting team to accomplish
the most sense logistically and
something like this.”
clinically,” Dr. Jarvis says. “It doesn’t
have to be in an area with an adjoining
exterior wall where vent pipes can be
installed and inspected. So, it really
plays into the overall construction and
siting costs.”
since additional helium needs to be
Overall, this technology also fits with
purchased and filled on site during
the modern concept of plug-and-play,
the installation to make up for the
Dr. Jarvis adds. “This presents a major
loss in transit.
change in MR; with Freelium our
GEHEALTHCARE.COM/MR
By removing these roadblocks to siting,
68
‡Technology in development that represents ongoing research
and development efforts. These technologies are not products
and may never become products. Not for sale. Not cleared
or approved by the U.S. FDA or any other global regulator for
commercial availability.
References
1. Pressure control system for zero boil-off superconducting
magnet. Patent US5936499 A. Available at:
https://www.google.com/patents/US5936499
2. Rogalla H, Kes PH. 100 Years of Superconductivity. Boca
Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis Group, CRC Press, 2012. Print.
SPRING 2017