Why Is Helium Used in MRI Machines?

Helium is used as a cooling agent in MRI machines (in liquid form) because of its extremely low boiling point. This fluid keeps superconducting magnets at temperatures of around -269°C (-452.2°F) to enable proper imaging function.

Below, we break down how helium pulls this off, why nothing else comes close, and how newer systems are solving helium’s biggest drawbacks.

Helium Plays a Critical Cooling Role in MRI Technology

In an MRI machine, helium works similarly to the coolant in a car’s engine—though it is way more extreme. Without it, the whole MRI system would overheat and fail.

Superconducting magnets only work at incredibly cold temperatures. Liquid helium gets them there.

Once the coils hit that temperature, they become superconducting: electricity flows with virtually zero resistance.

This super-cooling process lets magnets generate the powerful magnetic fields necessary for detailed images of the human body.

Why Helium Is Irreplaceable in MRI Machines

Helium has the lowest boiling point of any element on Earth. Nothing else can reliably reach the temperatures MRI magnets demand.

Helium is also the only element that won’t solidify under normal atmospheric pressure, no matter how cold it gets. That property is exactly what makes it reliable inside an MRI.

Traditional MRI machines use about 1,700 liters of liquid helium (enough to fill roughly 10 bathtubs). Some of that helium naturally evaporates over time, so it needs periodic top-offs.

Further Reading: What Is Helium Used for in Hospitals?

Safety Features of Modern MRI Machines

Helium’s extremely low boiling point and tiny atomic size make it difficult to contain. Modern MRI systems have gotten much better at handling this problem.

For example, when helium suddenly boils off (also known as a quench), it rapidly expands into a gas that can displace oxygen in the room. That expansion rivals the force of a small explosion. Newer MRI systems handle this with built-in venting that directs the gas safely outside the building, protecting everyone in the room.

Helium Efficiency Advancements in MRI Systems

Now there are MRI systems that use less than 1% of the helium typically required in traditional systems. 

This reduction comes from a shift in design: instead of submerging the magnet in a large bath of liquid helium, modern systems use a sealed, vacuum-insulated chamber with just a small amount of helium, kept cold by a mechanical cryocooler.

The trade-off: higher upfront costs, and repairs get more complex if the cryocooler fails.

Choosing the Right Helium Supplier

Helium keeps MRI technology running. Without it, one of medicine’s most powerful diagnostic tools goes dark.

Whether you’re running a traditional high-field MRI or one of the newer reduced-helium systems, having a dependable supplier helps prevent unexpected downtime for your MRI machine.

Further Reading: What Is Helium Used For?

Nick Vasco

Nick is an experienced B2B writer who brings his skill for crafting clear, easily digestible content to the industrial gas space.