Superconducting magnet supplier Cryogenic has developed a new range of products to eliminate the need for costly liquid-helium in a number of imaging and spectroscopic techniques.
The company has developed methods for cooling magnets without liquid helium and is now offering magnets for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.
With liquid helium becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain in many countries, the move is seen as a breakthrough in the medical machines and instruments sector.
It will also eliminate the necessity to continuously fill analytic instruments with liquid helium, which is time-consuming and often requires a technician trained in cryogenics.
Jeremy Good, managing director at Cryogenic, said the development addresses the needs of helium shortages in the medical profession.
“Shortages of helium is a pressing issue for researchers and the medical profession. In recent years major research laboratories have had to temporarily shut down multimillion-pound facilities because of these shortages and the problem will only get worse,” he said.
“Providing an alternative which doesn’t rely on a regular supply of helium is essential to addressing this problem. It will save time and money in the short term, and in the long term it may be the only option”.
