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MOBILE MRI RENTAL FAQ

RENTAL FAQ

MOBILE MRI RENTAL FAQ

Common questions facilities ask before renting a mobile MRI — rental terms, pricing, equipment, site requirements, delivery, staffing, and support.

Intel Imaging • Buy, sell, rent & service refurbished medical imaging equipment.

Mobile MRI Basics

A mobile MRI scanner is a fully self-contained, custom-built MRI imaging suite housed inside a specialized trailer. It is engineered to do everything a permanent in-house MRI suite can do — high-field imaging, full PACS integration, applications training for staff — but delivered on wheels to your facility. Each trailer is climate-controlled, magnetically and RF shielded, and designed to operate in any climate or location.
Renting allows your facility to preserve capital, maintain diagnostic operations during building renovations or system upgrades, manage temporary backlog increases, or test the local market demand before committing to a permanent MRI installation.
There are five situations where mobile MRI is almost always the right answer. First, your existing fixed scanner has gone down and replacement parts or service have a long lead time — every day without coverage means lost revenue and patient leakage. Second, you are mid-renovation and your scan room is offline for weeks or months. Third, your patient volume has spiked beyond what your existing scanner can handle, and your wait times are growing. Fourth, you are bridging the gap between selling an old scanner and installing the next one. And fifth, you want to test demand in a market or service line before committing to a permanent install.

Rental Terms & Pricing

Rental terms are flexible and can be structured to fit almost any situation. Short-term rentals can be as brief as one week — common for emergency bridge coverage when a fixed scanner goes down unexpectedly. Long-term rentals can extend 10 years or more for facilities using mobile MRI as a permanent operational solution. Most rentals land somewhere in between — typically 6 months to 5 years, depending on the use case.
Monthly rental rates depend on a handful of factors: the field strength of the scanner (1.5T vs 3T), the manufacturer and model, the rental term length, the location, and overall market demand. As a general reference, monthly rentals commonly fall between $25,000 and $45,000 per month, with longer terms and older technology landing at the lower end of the range. Custom quotes always make sense — every situation has its own variables, and a generic number rarely reflects what your specific project will cost.
A reputable mobile MRI rental should include everything you need to operate the scanner from day one. Specifically, the monthly rate should cover the scanner itself, the trailer and all its mechanical systems, full preventative maintenance on the scanner and the trailer, helium top-offs and cold head service when needed, software updates and patches, climate control (HVAC), 24/7 technical support, and emergency repair response. Helium boil-off events, cold head replacements, software patches, and routine PM should all be the provider's responsibility — not added charges that surprise you mid-rental.
Yes — these are typically separate from the monthly rental rate and quoted as one-time fees. Transportation is usually billed per mile (industry averages run $5.50 to $10.00 per mile each way), with cost depending on distance, route complexity, and any special transport requirements. Setup at delivery and removal at the end of the rental term are typically separate line items as well. A good quote will lay out all of these one-time costs alongside the monthly rate so there are no surprises later.

Equipment & Scanner Options

Mobile MRI fleets typically include systems from the major OEM platforms — Siemens, GE, Philips, Canon, and Toshiba. Commonly available models include the Siemens Symphony, Avanto, Espree, Aera, and Viato 1.5T platforms; GE Signa HDxt, Optima MR450w, and Voyager 1.5T systems; and various 3T configurations for facilities needing the higher field strength. The right model depends on your clinical mix, patient population, and what your existing radiologists are most comfortable reading.
1.5T is the workhorse field strength for general clinical imaging and handles 90 percent of routine MRI studies — neuro, musculoskeletal, abdominal, and vascular. It is also less expensive to rent, less sensitive to patient implants, and runs cooler and quieter. 3T offers higher signal-to-noise and is preferred for advanced applications — high-resolution neuro imaging, MR spectroscopy, cardiac MRI, and research-grade studies — but they are NOT available in a mobile setting due to their wider gauss line. For most facilities, 1.5T is the practical choice.
Widebore MRI systems (70 cm bore) are increasingly the preferred choice over standard bore (60 cm) for any facility serving claustrophobic, bariatric, or pediatric patients with anxiety. The extra 10 cm of bore diameter substantially reduces scan-completion failures from patient anxiety and accommodates larger patients without compromise. Widebore mobile units rent at a small premium over standard bore — typically worth it given how much patient comfort drives completion rates and repeat business.
Image quality from a properly maintained mobile MRI is clinically indistinguishable from the same scanner platform installed in a fixed suite. The OEM systems used in mobile trailers — Siemens Aera, GE Voyager, Philips Achieva, and so on — are the same platforms that go into hospital MRI rooms across the country. The shielding, magnetic field stability, and image acquisition protocols are all designed to deliver hospital-grade clinical results. The main thing that affects image quality is whether the rental provider maintains the scanner to OEM standards — not whether the system is in a trailer or a building.

Site Requirements

To host a mobile MRI, your site essentially needs three key things: Power (480V, 3-Phase dedicated service with a RussellStoll receptacle), Pad (a flat, level, and structurally reinforced concrete or asphalt pad to support the heavy trailer weight), and Connectivity (network/PACS hardline connection and data line access). Additionally, you'll need clear, unhindered vehicle access for delivery and patient lift clearance.
Mobile MRI scanners require clean, dedicated 480V, 3-Phase power at 150-200 Amps. Most standard coaches connect to your facility’s electrical grid via a heavy-duty shoreline cable ending in a RussellStoll female outlet (usually 5-wire, such as a RussellStoll DS2).
If your facility's electrical grid cannot support 480V three-phase power, or if the power source is "dirty" (prone to fluctuations and sags), you will need to utilize an on-board diesel generator. While our mobile trailers are equipped with emergency generators, long-term rentals rely on generator trucks or localized substation upgrades. We can coordinate an electrical audit with a local contractor to evaluate alternative hookups.
The trailer must park on a flat, level, and structurally solid surface — ideally a steel-reinforced concrete pad. While level asphalt can work, hot summer weather can soften asphalt and cause the heavy chassis supports to sink, leading to trailer instability and scan distortions. If parking on asphalt, metal landing plates must be placed under the trailer's support jacks to distribute weight.
Standard mobile MRI trailers are typically 48 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches wide, and 13 feet 6 inches tall (some large double-slide units are 12 ft x 60 ft). When fully loaded with the scanner, cooling systems, and shielding, the trailer weighs approximately 25 to 28 tons (around 50,000 to 56,000 lbs). The patient lift extends an additional 5 to 8 feet on the passenger side, requiring ample clearance.

Delivery & Setup

For emergency coverage (e.g., your existing system has experienced a sudden failure), we can often deliver a system within 3 to 7 business days, depending on current scanner availability and logistics. For standard, pre-planned rentals, delivery typically occurs within 15 to 30 days, which provides ample time to complete necessary site planning, concrete pad preparations, and electrical hookups.
It is highly recommended to book your mobile MRI system at least 30 to 60 days in advance of your target start date. This gives you the best chance of securing the exact manufacturer (such as Siemens or GE) and the specific model preferred by your clinical staff, while allowing comfortable time to handle local permits, logistics, and site hookups.
Intel Imaging manages the entire delivery, setup, leveling, and testing process from start to finish. Our specialized transport team delivers the trailer, positions it on your prepared pad, secures the stabilization jacks, connects the shoreline power, and runs complete diagnostic tests on the MRI system to ensure it is fully ready before handing over the keys. At the end of your rental term, we handle the entire decommissioning and extraction process in the same professional manner.
Absolutely. We provide comprehensive site planning assistance. Our engineering team will review your site layout, coordinate directly with your facility management team or local electrical contractor, and provide detailed specification drawings (spec sheets) for the power receptacle, concrete pad requirements, and vehicle turning clearance to ensure a smooth, issue-free installation on delivery day.

Staffing & Training

Generally, the facility is responsible for providing their own certified MRI technologist to operate the scanner, as they are most familiar with your clinical protocols, patient workflow, and PACS/billing systems. However, if needed, we can connect you with trusted medical staffing agencies to help you secure a temporary, qualified technologist.
Yes, standard applications training (often referred to as OEM applications training) can be included in the rental package. Upon delivery, a certified applications specialist will spend 2 to 5 days on-site training your technologists on the specific scanner user interface, software protocols, coil configurations, and safety features.

Service & Support

Standard mobile MRI rentals typically feature a 95% to 98% uptime guarantee (calculated on a monthly operational basis during standard scanning hours). If the system falls below the guaranteed uptime due to equipment failure, rental credits are provided proportionally.
Full comprehensive maintenance is included in your monthly rental rate. This covers all routine preventative maintenance (PM) services, component replacements due to normal wear and tear, 24/7 remote monitoring, software patches, and standard service calls with OEM-certified field service engineers.
All routine cryogenic services—including helium top-offs, cold head maintenance, and compressor service—are completely covered under the monthly rental agreement. Our engineering team actively monitors magnet pressure and helium levels remotely to schedule preventive refills before they affect your scanning operations.
We provide 24/7/365 emergency technical telephone support. If a system failure occurs during off-hours, a technician will first attempt to diagnose and resolve the issue remotely. If an on-site visit is required, we dispatch an OEM-certified field service engineer with an emergency response target (typically 4 to 8 hours) to minimize any disruption to your patient schedule.

Integration & Operations

Yes, all our mobile MRI systems are fully DICOM-compliant and designed for seamless integration with your existing PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) and RIS (Radiology Information System). During the on-site setup, our connectivity engineers will establish a secure network bridge to allow direct, instant transfer of imaging studies to your local network.
Absolutely. Mobile MRI systems are equipped with the same high-throughput technology found in fixed clinical suites. A standard 1.5T mobile scanner can easily support high daily patient volumes depending on your scan protocols and clinical workflow efficiency. The patient transition and scanning times are virtually identical to a permanent in-house suite.
Our trailers and scanners are engineered to comply with Joint Commission standards, state department of health regulations, ACR guidelines, and local building safety codes. We provide complete environmental control, emergency lighting, fire suppression, and ADA-compliant patient lifts to ensure your facility maintains full accreditation compliance during the entire rental period.
Patient comfort is a priority in our mobile design. The trailers are equipped with highly stable climate control (HVAC) systems, clean interior layouts, dimmable LED lighting, and relaxing aesthetics to reduce patient anxiety. For clinical requirements, standard soundproof headphones or integrated music systems are provided. Selecting a widebore system (70 cm) can further enhance patient comfort.

Working with Intel Imaging

Intel Imaging stands out because we provide comprehensive turnkey mobile solutions combined with exceptional customer support. Our fleet features late-model scanners from top manufacturers (Siemens, GE, and Philips) maintained to pristine OEM standards. With flexible rental terms, transparent pricing, 24/7 technical assistance, and a focus on long-term client success, we are committed to delivering excellence. Every customer. Everytime.
Getting started is simple and straightforward. You can contact our advisory team through our website or by phone to discuss your clinical needs, preferred scanner model, and estimated rental duration. We will perform an initial site consultation, assist with planning, and provide a transparent, all-inclusive proposal tailored specifically to your facility’s requirements.

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