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2025
Reject detection: Ventilation is blocked and explosion occurs
On November 19, 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that a number of Magnetom MRI scanners manufactured by Siemens Healthineers identified a serious problem that could lead to an explosion. This poses a threat to the health and lives of people nearby.
In MRI devices, liquid helium is used to cool the magnet winding to a temperature close to absolute zero, and thus achieve the superconductivity effect. Standard tomographs can use from one and a half to two tons of helium.
A defect found in Siemens scanners is associated with the formation of an ice plug in the ventilation system of the device. The consequences of the problem are manifested in the event of a sudden loss of superconductivity - the so-called quench, which is accompanied by rapid heating, sharp evaporation of liquid helium and emergency dumping of the magnetic field. A plug in the ventilation system leads to the impossibility of helium release and an increase in pressure in the apparatus. This, in turn, can provoke a rupture of the helium retention system, followed by a large-scale leak and explosion.
The problem may be indicated by an error message as follows: "Magnet Supervision: The average heater power is above the alarm threshold. Please contact Siemens Healthineers Service». In this case, further operation of the MRI scanner is impossible. The defect is present in devices such as Magnetom Verio, Magnetom Prisma, Magnetom Skyra, Magnetom Lumina, Magnetom Vida, Magnetom Connectom.X, Magnetom Skyra Fit BioMatrix, Magnetom Cima.X Fit, etc. As of August 29, 2025, Siemens Healthineers reported no serious injuries or deaths related to the issue.[1]
Defect detection - helium flows out
In early October 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ) scans manufactured by Siemens Healthineers, which identified a defect. The problem can lead to helium leakage, which creates a risk of suffocation indoors.
Liquid helium is used in MRI scanners to cool the magnet winding to a temperature close to absolute zero: this is necessary to provide a superconductivity effect and maintain a powerful magnetic field. The standard MRI machine uses from one and a half to two tons of helium, the leakage of which can lead to an emergency shutdown of the magnetic field - the so-called quenchu. In such a situation, the magnet is heated, and the coolant is discharged in huge quantities into the surrounding air. As a result, the superconducting magnet instantly loses its properties. After quench, expensive repairs are required, including filling with liquid helium and replacing damaged components.
The FDA notice says the helium leak issue affects more than ten models of Siemens Healthineers MRI scanners that are shipped worldwide, including the Magnetom family and Biograph's series of combined MRI/PET machines. The root causes of the problem are established.
Siemens Healthineers recommends that customers who use these devices do not reboot their systems if they show any problems, but contact their local service provider. In addition, the manufacturer advises regular preventive maintenance of magnets. As part of the recall program, service center specialists will diagnose the equipment and, if necessary, fix problems.[2]
2024: Magnetom Flow announcement
On February 28, 2024, Siemens Healthineers announced the Magnetom Flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, which uses virtually no helium. Its volume is only 0.7 liters against approximately 1500 liters for traditional installations of a comparable class. Read more here.
2018
Magnetom Altea announcement
On November 25, 2018, Siemens Healthineers introduced Magnetom Altea, a new 1,5T wide tunnel (70 cm) MRI scanner that uses BioMatrix technology that takes into account patient anatomical differences, and a new Turbo Suite app that can halve scan time. The scanner is also equipped with a new infotainment environment that visually expands the tunnel. Read more here.
First MRI using 10.5 tesla scanner
On March 13, 2018, researchers at the University of Minnesota Center for Magnetic Resonance Imaging performed the first full-body MRI scan using a 10.5 tesla scanner.
The project was launched in 2008 under a grant from the National Institute health care USA (NIH) in the amount of $8 million. Since quite a lot of helium was required to obtain a magnet of this power, its production was postponed for a whole year. Finally, the magnet for the tomograph under study was delivered from Great Britain a waterway to Duluth, Minnesota in 2009 and then shipped overland in a specialized trailer to the University of Minnesota MRI Center building on the Twin Cities campus.
Researchers at the university worked for nine years on how to cool conductors below the required -455 ° F (or -270 ° C) liquid helium temperature, and also tuned the device's complex electronics. In addition, since MR tomographs have never been used to diagnose humans before, scientists also conducted animal studies to assess the device's safety.
The new MRI scanner (Magnetom 10.5T from Siemens Healthiners) allows you to get an image of the whole body, but the main point of application is the brain. In addition to the initial NIH grant, the researchers also received a five-year, $9.7 million grant from the NIH Brain Initiative group to develop a new generation of brain imaging techniques.
 | With this tool, we are going to expand the boundaries of imaging studies of the brain and the central nervous system as a whole, "explained Professor Kamil Ugurbil, director of the University of Minnesota MRI Center.[3] |  |
The researchers hope that a new system with high magnetic field power will help assess the anatomical and functional structure of the brain from a new perspective.
Magnetom Sola announcement
On March 1, 2018, at the European Congress of Radiologists, Siemens Healthineers introduced the new 1.5 tesla Magnetom Sola MRI scanner with built-in BioMatrix technology, eliminating specific interference during examination. Read more here.
2017
Siemens Magnetom Aera 1.5T did not work in prison
In November 2017, it became known that the long and winding path to the prison in Guantanamo, made by a portable MRI-scanner Siemens Magnetom Aera 1.5T, led to a dead end - the device, whose four-month lease cost $370 thousand, reached its destination, but never earned. here More.
Magnetom Vida announcement
At the end of February 2017, Siemens Healthineers announced the Magnetom Vida high-performance magnetic resonance imaging scanner, equipped with a new technology that adapts the system to each person. Read more here.
Notes
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