Royal Philips has unveiled BlueSeal Horizon, the first 3T MR system to operate without the need for helium refills.

Introduced at the outset of the annual RSNA meetings in Chicago, the platform represents a step forward in reducing MR life cycle costs and installation complexity by eliminating the reliance on a nonrenewable cooling resource.

The company first introduced helium-free MR systems in 2018 with its 1.5T BlueSeal technology. According to Philips, more than 2,000 units have since been installed globally, collectively avoiding the use of an estimated 6 million liters of liquid helium.
BlueSeal Horizon brings the same sealed-magnet design to the higher-field 3.0T systems commonly used for advanced neurological, musculoskeletal, and vascular imaging. The system uses a cryogenic design that contains just 7 liters of helium, sealed within the magnet housing for the duration of the scanner’s life.

Alongside hardware updates, Philips is positioning BlueSeal Horizon as a broader innovation platform incorporating AI-driven tools to support workflow acceleration and imaging precision. These features include:

SmartPlanning, which automates planning tasks and now includes cardiac imaging workflows

Real-time Scan Preview, using NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and open-source AI models to enable faster image reconstruction and adjustment

SmartSpeed Precise, a dual-AI engine designed to produce scans up to three times faster and with improved sharpness

SmartReading, a cloud-connected tool for integrated AI reporting in neurology and oncology

“These innovations will bring advanced clinical AI to the point of care, helping radiology teams achieve faster, sharper, and more consistent imaging results,” said Ioannis Panagiotelis, business leader for MR at Philips.

Philips noted that BlueSeal Horizon remains a work in progress and is not currently available for sale in the U.S. Its future availability is yet to be confirmed.

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