Here is the full MRI preventive-maintenance checklist used by VectoRay Medical engineers for GE, Siemens, and Philips 1.5T and 3T systems. Includes helium, cold-head, gradient, RF, and coil checks.
Direct answer
A complete MRI preventive maintenance covers cryogen and cold-head status, chiller performance, gradient and RF chain, RF coils, patient-table motion, image quality phantoms, and safety systems. Expect 6–10 hours on a 1.5T or 3T system.
Cryogen and magnet
- Helium level and boil-off rate compared to 30-day trend
- Cold-head vibration and noise (baseline recording)
- Shield temperature
- Coil-form and magnet-monitor logs
- Quench pipe inspection
- Emergency Rundown Unit (ERDU) function verified
- Cryogen alarm and remote monitor confirmed
Chiller and facility water
- Chiller supply and return temperatures
- Flow rate against OEM specification
- Glycol concentration if applicable
- Filter condition
- Facility chilled-water heat exchanger
- Room humidity and temperature vs. spec
Gradient chain
- Gradient amplifier cabinet: temperature, fans, filters
- DC-link voltages
- Gradient coil connections and cable strain relief
- EPI ghosting phantom scan
- Eddy-current compensation review
RF chain
- RF power amplifier calibration
- Center frequency and shim status
- Transmit/receive switch verification
- Body-coil and head-coil B1 uniformity
- Local coil connector inspection
Image quality phantoms
- SNR phantom
- Uniformity and ghosting
- Geometric distortion
- Slice thickness
- Center-frequency drift over the day
Patient-table and safety
- Table motion, position, and load test
- Emergency stops and interlocks
- Patient alert/squeeze ball
- Cryogen and O2 sensors
- Zone signage and door interlocks
Console and connectivity
- Log review for errors since prior visit
- Software patch review
- DICOM connectivity to PACS
- Storage and reconstruction PC health
Documentation
Every PM visit should conclude with a signed report that records readings, replacements, and any recommended corrective actions. Facility physicists frequently request the report for ACR accreditation.
Need more information about MRI Preventive Maintenance? Reach out to us at VectoRay Medical LLC, and we will be happy to guide you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should MRI PM be performed?
At least twice per year for standard systems, with monthly cold-head and chiller checks. High-utilization cardiac and neuro programs benefit from quarterly full PM.
How long does an MRI PM take?
Full MRI preventive maintenance takes 6–10 hours on a 1.5T or 3T system. Add 2-4 hours if the cold-head is being replaced during the same visit.
