How MRI Scanners are Made | How It's Made | Science Channel

Learn how the MRI Scanner is made step by step.
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How MRI Scanners are Made | How It's Made | Science Channel
• How MRI Scanners are M...

[@Boyso5407]

I understand the basics of how an MRI machine works but when I watch a show like this I still can’t comprehend how any person was able to come up with this idea and then somehow engineer it. It’s mind blowing.

[@JaxTheVulpine]

Makes humanity get a name for itself

[@MaxPower-11]

The gradient coil’s function is to enable the scanner to tell from where exactly inside the machine, among the trillions and trillions of hydrogen atoms inside the human body, did a return signal originate from. Being able to do this is an incredible scientific feat and the way it actually works has to be one of the cleverest inventions of the 20th century. So clever in fact, that Paul Lauterbur, who invented the concept, received the Nobel prize for it.

[@comanderkerman4260]

Man was a wizard, you just have to look at the grooved copper plates at 4:05 to see the proof.

[@NinoNiemanThe1st]

Thanks @Max Power, good explanation. Most amazing technology, Lauterbur did indeed deserve his Nobel Prize! And hats off to the more recent software programmers who have made the signal returns even more accurate too, MRIs now have enormous amounts of software behind them these days too.

[@koriw1701]

Too bad his name is lost to (general) history. We should be learning these people's names. Doing such could inspire kids to focus on science earlier than they might do so normally.

[@Jnglfvr]

@@koriw1701 It's more important to know who can sink a 3 point shot.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Great jobs for the physicists, mathematicians, engineers, and programmers in designing these.

[@manny_k2988]

Specifically the biomedical engineers

[@mrgreyant]

And the skilled people building them

[@cz9336]

Props to Einstein 😌

[@PriyanshonYT]

@@manny_k2988 no, interestingly a biomedical engineer didn’t invent it, an astro physicist did it and he got nobel prize for it

[@manny_k2988]

@@PriyanshonYT not surprised, as biomedical engineering is one of the newer fields of engineering. Nevertheless, in todays modern world astrophysicists do not need to concern themselves with these machines anymore, it has been passed over to the physicists and engineers 👍

[@laserman3631]

The basic physics of what goes on in the MRI process were stumbled upon during radar development in WW2. There were unexplained atmospheric losses of the radar beam that later were discovered to be caused by nuclear quadrupole resonance occurring in the nucleus of nitrogen molecules of the atmosphere. Initially the MRI was called NMRI but (N)uclear was dropped during the cold war, and nuclear weapons fears. The magnetic resonance imaging technology is also used in illicit drug and explosives detection. Very cool stuff.

[@WolfmanDude]

This is my favorite episode of this show yet! There is always something so mysterious about radio frequency electronics like this. Almost like magic that really works. I only wish they showed the construction of the superconducting magnet.

[@cameroncunningham204]

As an MR tech this is an excellent video…it took me years and many technical manuals and chats with field engineers to under the extreme level of engineering needed to build these machines

[@mumiemonstret]

Yes, the level of engineering is demonstrated by this episode being 10 minutes long. Twice as long as, for instance, the toothpick episode. Jokes aside, I love this show and how they manage to cram so much information into such a digestible format.

[@ThomMyer]

My grandmother became a MRI technician and it really helped me find out on what I got these days, but she was an excellent medical nurse and imaging specialist from 1961 to 1983. After she died of medical issues, the memories will show my support and success on what she done to help me investigate my health problems

[@digitaltree515]

I'm an engineer for these, and this explanation was quite well done. However, I'd like to point out that the actual part that becomes the magnet is not shown nor discussed. The cryostat is shown, but the niobium alloy windings which are housed inside of the cryostat are what becomes superconductive at 4 degrees K while immersed in the liquid helium bath.

[@MattSkalski]

Yeah I was sad they skipped the arguably most interesting part.

[@psirvent8]

Is it secret or anything ? 🤔

[@thebamplayer]

Can you explain, why they use no high temperature superconductors? Which would only require liquid nitrogen temperatures.

[@xxedgelord420xx4]

​@@thebamplayer They're still experimental and super expensive to make.

[@christopherleubner6633]

Would have been nice to show that part. That piece is a big copper bobbin with the coils mounted inside of it. A couple pieces of the low temp superconductor wire are attached to a bridge made of high temperature superconductor that has a tiny heater to make the middle non superconducting. This allows it to charge up the magnet and when you have ramped up to the desired field strength you turn off that heater and the current flows indefinitely. I used to repair the cold head assembly shown. What is inside is a piston and a derlin plastic piece that get helium pushed in and out of it. It works exactly like one of those toy stirling engines, except it turns mechanical energy into heat pumping. The helium for those is not cheap either, it is usually a mixture of helium 3 and helium 4 which allows it to get cold enough to recondense the helium. Helium 3 is a byproduct of tritium production and so is mighty expensive 😮

[@begotten59]

Since 2006 October 29 MRI brain cancer/GBM survivor and counting, 17 years years and counting. Thank you explaining the MRI how it’s going. Thank you 🙏👏

[@tonas1997]

Alive 17 years after a GBM? That's awesome!!!

[@ThomMyer]

I had two MRI scans taken, 2022 and 2023, however I am a Rhinovirus and crushed vertebrae survivor, My grandmother took radiology classes in college in 1961 on how radio frequency works. Still really liked how the MRI was made to help find diagnoses.🧲🧲🧲

[@s-w]

I can't believe the guy spray painting isn't wearing a mask.

[@jaybone4941]

I thought this same thing while watching this. I'm guessing it's some sort of speciallized powder coat that is fairly dense and doesn't stay airborne like traditional solvent-based paints, or this is done some place where OSHA doesn't visit/exist.

[@oblux]

I thought the same - and the woman sanding the fibreglass by hand wasn't wearing a mask either. Looks like GE's workers will be needing a MRI later in their lives when they've got nasty respiratory issues.

[@readmorebooksidiots]

I've noticed after binging the series that sometimes the workers skip their PPE to show off for the camera crew

[@oblux]

@@readmorebooksidiots I did think vanity might be the issue 😂

[@cetocoquinto4704]

No i think its powder coating..but even with that you need mask hahaha

[@AmericaVoice]

I am just in awe of how humans can design and use these resources and technology! How many lives has these saves every minute. This includes CT scans and X-rays!

[@1000lionell]

Great vid... I had a MRI couple of months ago. Like an EDM concert but the beat never dropped

[@melindajohnson3394]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@deadchuck]

This video lets you appreciate not only how the Machine works but also how it was Built. 😊

[@InspireFPV]

Indeed, that's the whole point of "How it's Made" :P

[@deadchuck]

@@InspireFPV my Bad, I was just "thinking out loud" because for the past 20 years of working as a CT Scan and MRI Technologist, I never really gave these Machines credit.

[@sungear]

And appreciate the cost of an mri?

[@mikeiver]

@spectate transform GE is working daily to improve them too. The amount of Helium in one is stunning and the cost...

[@spiritman-em4qr]

There's nothing quite like building a $3M gadget in a $96 garage.

[@jon-kl9mk]

It amazes me how they can design something so complicated.

[@x0men]

You missed the chance to highlight the plastic bolts because it's so close to a super magnet

[@TheMookie1590]

she missed like 80% of the construction process

[@x0men]

@@TheMookie1590 these videos aren't supposed to be detailed build instructions, but there's a scene with the plastic bolts and time to squeeze that one line in and they missed it.

[@elcano9l52]

This is a great tool that gives quality images without exposing you to harmful ionizing radiation, but it's not for the faint of heart, specially for people with anxiety. I had a full lumbar spine MRI that lasted for 2 hours. Being inside one of these tight chambers, with loud pulsing noises, while staying as still as possible for 2 hours, is nothing short of a great feat. Still, this is a life saving machine, truly amazing.

[@melindajohnson3394]

Between spine and MS issues over the past 20 years, I've developed the ability to sleep through the longer sessions. Especially when the music volume is turn up just above the bangs and buzzing.

[@geaux13saints56]

MRIs take that long?

[@elcano9l52]

@@geaux13saints56 some take even longer. CT Scans are faster but expose you to harmful radiation, MRI’s don’t but are slower.

[@epistte]

I have a anxiety disorder and I was offered xanax when I have had MRIs.

[@clumsycolours1677]

Not sure why this was in my recommended, but curiosity got the better of me and that was fascinating as!!

[@StevenSeagull6969]

This explains its one to three million dollar price tag.

[@Elmatador964]

Incredible show of human ingenuity. So many parts to this!

[@AluminumOxide]

Anyone wonder how the inner magnet itself is assembled or what’s it made of before starting with the aluminium magnet casing? It’s a company proprietary secret.

[@mentalist98]

its usually a niobium tin alloyed wire with many windings

[@aliali-ce3yf]

they buy it from RadioShack

[@koriw1701]

What a fascinating documentary! I have never known how all the bells and whistles work on an MRI machine, though I always wanted to; I've certainly been in enough of them to have stock options...

[@EricK-ig4ko]

I talked to a MRI tech that goes to different hospitals to work on them and he told me that he charges a minimum of 400 an hour with a 3 hour minimum and every hour that it’s down it costs the hospital between 5 and 10 grand an hour

[@bouffant-girl]

Radiology technologists make really great income, but you better not have dyscalculia. If you have dyscalculia, you will never get through the prequesites. I know this because I have dyscalculia.

[@jacobsnodgrass1888]

I've been obsessed with these ever since I had one when I was eight.

[@theodoreroberts3407]

You didn't mention the tremendous amount of programming to make this system work. I worked for a company that was one of the pioneers of MRI and that's what we did everyday.

[@vintageludwig]

Yeah but how do you film that and make lame puns?

[@PepitoStyleMC]

I think I could knock that code in a JavaScript file. Yes yes

[@theodoreroberts3407]

@@PepitoStyleMC you would have to be beyond good, I think. The code was handed down to us to enter and it took days to put it into one machine. We sent all types of x-ray machines all over the world, even during the cold war.

[@barcodenosebleed5485]

Always been curious what that software looks like. Honestly surprised at how manual and seemingly not all that tolerance sensitive this construction process was. Positioning things by hand, surely some differences in the glue thickness, etc. I imagine these have to go through some calibration process?

[@milo8379]

Definitely, the self-taught programmers that are in fashion today do not come in there, yes or if university studies are needed to be able to develop that.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Had my first MRI scan last year. Man, does that thing make some WEIRD noises while it's working! When it was done I asked her how long I was in there, I was floored to hear that it was over 45 minutes. Seemed like only about 15 minutes to me. She said usually people have the opposite reaction. I wonder when we'll get the days where they scan your whole body with a tiny handheld thing in a few seconds like they do on Star Trek...

[@xochj]

This is the best "How It's Made" I've ever seen!

[@chrisandrus2735]

What a beautiful piece of engineering! 😍🤯

[@BB1951]

These machines are noisy and claustrophobic as hell, but it did find my problem. Blessings to the manufacturers.

[@ronbo191]

Great Video. Most of us all have had MRI's at one time or another and now we know what goes into that machine..

[@kimbratton9620]

Very cool to see them be made!

[@hishamabdulmogny864]

l love to learn how things are made .... it's beautiful.

[@richmiller9844]

Ah the good old days of painting without a silly mask.

[@pierumba]

I was looking for this comment lol

[@M.Manique]

Amazing no wonder its so expensive not just to make also to use for patients extraordinary piece of equipment

[@exlife9446]

It is a super amazing and respectable product.

[@kofeyh]

What's awesome is the extreme lengths made to stop 'noise' and 'rattles' for something that is LOUD AF when running.

[@q1o2]

That's the helium pump, among other things. Liquid helium has to constantly be pumped around it to keep it cool, which is -452° F! That's called absolute zero, or 0 kelvin. Building a pump to move that fluid around is a marvel of engineering, and it's a little noisy.

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

I didn't realize MRI's were so small considering how many times i've been inside one.

[@rickytorres9089]

That's the points of the designs so you are not as likely to feels confined. The newer "cone" ones does a VERY good job of that. Even though I am not uncomfortable with smaller spaces, I sure felt better being in such a newer machine and felt like it went so fast as well!

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

@@rickytorres9089 I think I've been in the older ones... I've had over 20 MRI scans starting in the late 90's and so on.

[@merlie1254]

Wow! Pretty amazing. I had an MRI done a few years ago. It’s a very cool instrument to look into our body. I love Science and Technology 👍😊

[@alwaysright8338]

It’s pretty cool to see how that works 😮😮

[@jonathanbenson3737]

My uncle is the quality control manager there. I was able to tour the plant, and it is pretty cool to watch in person.

[@hannahoconnor8516]

Where is the plant at?

[@erikl2144]

My father was the Senior Engineer of the MRI systems, in what was Elscint company which started with all imaging systems, while the MRI Dpt was later been purchased by GE Medical. So any production of the systems is much thanks to him. This relentless work-horse died of Alzheimer at the age of 70.... RIP Dad Raphael.

[@freestreaming3780]

So this is why my compass always lead to emergency room..

[@faithdenelzen8808]

Having had many MRIs done great to know where the knocks and noise come from and how it's made 👌

[@mrjub]

I didn't expect such a machine is soldered, by hand, the same way as pickups on my electric guitar.

[@sharedknowledge6640]

The soldering technique is terrible especially considering how relatively inaccessible those connection are and how MRIs have massive internal vibrations and stresses. Rule number 1 for reliable solder connections, for anything with any mass, is you need a mechanically secure connection. You don’t just tack the wires down to pads. You also are supposed to get the connection hot enough to flow the solder not use the iron to melt it and just blob it on as shown here. I suspect this is all cost cutting by GE which is kind of absurd on such an expensive machine. I have to wonder if GE doesn’t care as they probably make also money fixing them. The disassembly required to fix some of those connections would make it very a expensive repair for one cold solder joint.

[@wnturck]

I’ve had dozens of MRI scans. I wish it was more comfortable

[@msbgone]

Great Vid!

[@vandavis2182]

I love watching this made but my last MRI was horrible but saved me

[@Nainara32]

I kind of thought it would all be done by precision machinery, but I guess this sort of equipment has loose enough tolerances that it can be hand assembled.

[@siliconvalleyengineer5875]

wow fantastic video, Im thankful the MRI is built in America using highist standards.

[@Bossmodegoat]

One of the mind bending technologies on earth. Seriously look up a video on how these things work

[@cabeloDoPardal2]

Great

[@horseprotogen5560]

I loved to SEE this

[@VoidHalo]

I just read that they've made a new kind of MRI that combines a LINAC Radiotherapy unit with MRI to provide more precise/accurate treatment and minimize damage to healthy tissue, while optimizing the energy delivered to the tumour because they're able to image it in real time AS they're treating it. Instead of taking an MRI before hand and relying on landmarks like tattoo dots and those net-like casts they make of your body to hold you in the same position each time. As you can imagine, it's much better. But very new. So probably a couple of decades before the general public sees it.

[@okzzvil7617]

The painter is not following safety protocol. This is given. He should wear painter's respirator.

[@bluenorm]

spraying the paint with out mask. how nice.

[@squirey]

That 1st song! 🐸👍

[@christopherleubner6633]

Those big copper pancake coils are actually RF chokes designed to prevent the RF and gradiant field from getting induced in the main magnet. All those buzzing and ticking sounds come from the gradiant and RF assmbly on the bore.❤

[@TheManLab7]

Every time I've had one I end up falling asleep. I recon it's the sound and vibrations that do it, because I've fallen asleep in clubs quite a few times before

[@tigerganeral5109]

👍👍👍💪

[@AaronSchwarz42]

One alternative way to cool the magnets is to use vapor chamber coolers that prevent the working fluid *expensive helium* from leaking away // It requires more copper & aluminum thermal conductors & heat flow management, but can use 90% less helium, making the long term operating 50X less costly

[@ThomMyer]

I had an MRI done on my chest once I had Rhinovirus, but the scanning was pretty good but really magnetic to do.

[@rickytorres9089]

Those mangets are indeed beasts not to be recoken with! Some of the videos on here shows just "strong" these mad "mans" are.

[@ThomMyer]

My grandmother worked as a MRI tech since the late 60's and 70's, but I learned a lot from her diagnosis finding to help me out.

[@ThomMyer]

The second scan I had in April of '23 was my head and neck, I really had not seen much of an issue with the nurses trying to help me lay down, but I can only do a 1T or 3T MRI for my pacemaker device which was according to the rules of using it.

[@nathanielsmith2926]

I wanna see how they make the machines that make the machines. What machine builds THOSE machines? The machine that builds the machine that builds the machines used to build machines.

[@Ali-oz3hd]

Mri is the greatest human invention

[@joelshack85]

It’s amazing what RF can achieve!

[@rickytorres9089]

Indeed I sure it's for reliably and security concerns over things like Wifi and similar tech. The same reasons why tradional faxing still roams the earth to this day.

[@brendakrieger7000]

💜

[@chocolaterose3483]

I love this show

[@Navinsharma5]

LOOKS LIKE A DIY PROJECT

[@uzrazu7507]

Worker: How much exopy we need boss? Boss: Yes!

[@BB1951]

All of it!

[@rickytorres9089]

I am sure they are over speced due to critical workloads they are obviously designed for. You wouldn't want something to literally fails you right?

[@hylacinerea970]

best experience is asking for the headphones and getting the gentle classical music drowned out by BROWWWWW BROWWW BA BA BA BA BA KRRRK KRRRK TCHK TCHK TCHK EEEEE

[@giragama]

Helium is a non-renewable resource, due to it's a very light gas, once it escapes it rises up to the upper atmosphere and it can't be recovered again, so every day less helium remains available on earth, for this reason every time you let go a helium ballon away, an MRI and other medical or industrial devices become more expensive.

[@bekkerthesokuangeldragon68]

Just like speakers. Copper wire, magnet, magnetic field, Frequency waves, magnet exterior plates on front and back covering front and back of magnet, open inner spot of the magnet, coil tube liner, vibration, magnetic field vibration movement, spider brace and cone and cone cover cap and surround for proper movement and sound and soundwaves to create treble, mid and bass and voices. ( i might be wrong on this but i think i got it correctly )

[@whatareuduing]

it was interesting that the painter in the paint booth wasn't wearing PPE. Where are these machines made?

[@RaviThakoer]

The spray painter and epoxy team aren't wearing masks...doesn't seem right. Why are the copper plates etched?

[@countalucard4226]

I hoe all the people who build these machines are well payed.

[@kraneiathedancingdryad6333]

I've been in one of those. I'm not claustrophobic, but I can understand how there'd be a problem for someone who is.

[@charleneterrell]

Request to submit this video to the US Supreme Court.

[@richardtatorship422]

This will be similar to what will be used for space travel, the magnetic field would shield the passenger from cosmic radiation.

[@sethbyas2452]

I've never seen so much epoxy being used before

[@israel_started_it_ALL_in_1947]

That second solder placement adjacent to the release valve was not perpendicular.

[@Abijah12411]

That's an older MRI cylinder. . .but still even with the newer open style units, I must have sedation because I still get a claustrophobic feeling

[@brandlynnyoung3123]

I've always said that they had better knock me out if they ever want me to have an MRI

[@zusiarosenthal4674]

Fun fact, I had a host dad who has a phd in mri physics and for his thesis he built his own working mri machine

[@gman8760]

better question is how do they move it into place in the hospital???

[@vicmartone]

I used to work for Siemens Healthcare which also manufactures MRIs. The supply chain is very complex. Each machine weighs a couple of tons. Since is also a huge investment, most hospitals know ahead of time about the purchase and they are placed inside before the room is built. It requires a lot of lead inside the walls/floor/ceiling and also reinforced structure. Existing hospitals might need to tear down some wall for the installation. at higher levels I've seen they use cranes since no elevator would be able to handle it. The open bore ones are even more interesting, since they have a lower field, they don't use electromagnets like the one in the video. Is literally a huge slab of magnetic rock (Cuts down on electricity and coolant costs) that weighs almost a ton hovering over the person. And to think claustrophobic people prefer open MRIs

[@gman8760]

@@vicmartone i figured they were built first then the hospital around it. just wasn't sure what happens when or if they decided to add one later

[@Chris119.]

I work in a hospital radiology department in the x-ray and CT area but I watched them replace an MRI room just down the hall from us. The process took weeks. They had to have a crew come in and cut open a hole in the exterior wall of the building and place it by a crane, then the wall was reconstructed, all the plumbing for the cooling equipment in the adjacent room was installed too. Theres a whole additional room with power transformers, computer banks, and storage tanks and pumps to circulate the liquid helium she mentions in this video. Then several days of GE engineers and in-service reps doing testing and calibration on the room, bringing the MRI techs up to speed on using the work stations. Our in house IT guys had to get it communicating with the hospital PACS and information systems so it can send and receive all its exam data. It's a BIG job, takes a vast team of people. and this isn't just some ordinary construction crew either, its people who specialize in hospital related work to ensure cleanliness for the patients inside. Plastic sheets had to be taped up to seal the area off from dust, special ventilation ducts during the process... they even had to attach these big sticky pads to the floor for the guys to walk over as they entered and exited the area so they wouldn't track dust down the hall on their shoes. Its just so involved.

[@rickytorres9089]

@@vicmartone The liquid He4 systems failuring is just as dangerous as fault points here right?

[@rickytorres9089]

@@Chris119. I wouldn't wanna think about if the power to these equipment would fails (e.g. if the backup generator, USP, etc doesn't kicks into when needed in an event of the main going under).

[@xnamkcor]

I wonder if some guy saw how MRIs are made and that's why we now see copper healing stuff everywhere.

[@railfanningmichael3970]

Had to get an MRI done on my knee once, it resulted me having to get knee surgery done when the results from the MRI came back

[@natesanjyothikumari5256]

I want to know how x rays machies are built

[@floydiangreen]

That soldering 🤔

[@InderpalSingh280ludhiana]

GE Healthcare ♡

[@jovinelbolivar1707]

Salute to everyone who contributed their knowledge for this great invention. I've been on MRI last 2013, and it really helps a lot for my diagnosis. L5-S1 disc protrusion. So grateful, my operation successfully done. Now, I still can play basketball. GOD BLESS. 🏀⛹️‍♂️❤

[@andrewty37]

Same I had Open Valve Heart Replacement it save my life. I wouldn't be here if those MRI scanners where not around! I have history of issues and theses machines save me.

[@woman178]

Who is compiting in this tech field in the market

[@sarahjrandomnumbers]

Love how this totally misses anything about how the magnet is actually made, so we just get to see a tube being welded, but we don't see any of the cool stuff in it...

[@odiadavid6957]

My question is why is the assembly by hand and by an assembly line?

[@user-gw1cq5bk3m]

Science

[@bushido8077]

Me who undergo mri the other day, makes me wonder how it was manufactured. My mri test is 2nd time, the first one last year August

[@Jayv13258]

They forgot to show the coil prior to being bonded, which is pretty much the most important stage

[@MindMaster2000]

Safety regulations are things of past

[@h08835]

I just have one question: Who is "they"? Because "they" obviously send their paint workers into the painting cell and let them grind fiberglas surfaces without any respiratory protection. Nice.

[@bertclayton6597]

I'm curious if this is another spin off of military research where it was developed for some military use, but found to have medical use.

[@Blackoutfor10days]

👀

[@anasqai]

Then if a glove of this layer, or like blood pressure wrap, can perform a scan too right, a small one? Maybe with a bag connection battery + memory space.