MRI Magnets

The first practical superconducting magnets were constructed in the early 1960’s, and a substantial number have since been manufactured for use in scientific or industrial research. However, it was not until the emergence of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the late 1970’s that a commercial application of superconductivity appeared that would take superconductivity out of the laboratory and into everyday use. The strong and stable magnetic fields needed for MRI have meant that almost from the outset the majority of systems have used superconducting magnets, and the widespread acceptance of MRI as a valuable diagnostic tool in modern medicine has resulted in a worldwide installed base today in excess of 10,000 superconducting magnets.