Top 5 Tips When Your MRI Is Not Scanning

This helpful guide is designed for MRI technologists to utilize when your MRI is not scanning due to system errors. We’ve developed our resources in direct response to customer requests, offering practical solutions to everyday problems.

We understand the daily stresses faced by technologists and recognize that unreliable MRI scans contribute to these challenges. Rest assured, addressing scan issues is within your control. Our comprehensive guide outlines common causes of MRI scan failures and provides actionable steps to ensure reliable scanning.

Top 5 Tips When Your MRI Is Not Scanning

The first step to identifying scan failure issues is viewing your message log and gathering pertinent data entries. Your MRI system message log updates every 5 seconds and will contain a detailed description of the reasons for scan failure. Start by clicking on your notification tab for the MRI message log. Your message log showing current messages will populate.

Then, click on “View Log” near the bottom to open GE MRI system message log. Click on Prior, Next, and Last Page to navigate the most current messages. Error messages will populate whenever an issue occurs that stops your MRI from scanning. Correspondingly, messages will be timestamped with most recent messages appearing at the bottom of the page.

1. How To View MRI System Message Log

Error log entries are listed in chronological order with the most recent being towards the bottom of the screen.

Expert Advice: Look for the paragraph length messages. Those will contain the most important data. Shorter message log entries can generally be ignored.

2. TPS reset failed

TPS reset failures indicate one or more of your subsystem controllers is not communicating with your Host network. Click here to view the full TPS reset procedure, accompanied with TPS reset failure troubleshooting tips.

3. How to restart your MRI after power outage or shutdown

This is the most commonly requested service inquiry we receive throughout the year. Many systems require a reset or system restart after system shutdowns, power fluctuations, and power outages. Videos available in addition to the step-by-step guide below

GE MRI scanner power on and restart procedure

Note: Only to be performed by trained personnel. Always make sure all power has been removed before attempting to reset any breakers.

1. Locate A1 main disconnect panel in the MRI equipment room. The MRI main disconnect panel is mounted on the wall and feeds incoming power to the MRI system. Ensure breakers have been reset and the breaker for MRI is in the on position with all green LED’s are illuminated.

2. Locate the MRI PDU cabinet. The PDU cabinet will have a Green Button (marked “Emo Reset”), a Red Button (marked “Power Off”) and a main input toggle switch on the left side of the red and green buttons.
3. To power off MRI system, lift PDU cabinet main input toggle switch to horizontal position to reset input breaker. Switch pictured above (right image). Light grey (left side) and currently in the vertical position.
4. To power on MRI system: Toggle main input breaker back down to the vertical position. Always maintain all safety guidelines.
5. Important: Push the Green Emo Reset button on the PDU cabinet after powering system back on to reset the rest of your subsystems (Patient comfort, LED displays on MRI, RF subsystem, gradient subsystem, etc.)
6. Login as “sdc” or “signa” and wait for system start up. You may not see numbers at the top of your gantry due to a system reset. To remedy this issue, bring your patient transport up to the scan plane and push the home button to bring your doghouse out. Once doghouse connects to patient transport cradle, a zero will be visible on the MRI gantry display. Encoder will begin tracking your cradle movement and scanning may continue as normal.

4. Auto Pre-scan Failed

This is the most common error message experienced by MRI technologists during scan failures, While there are many factors that may lead to your MRI not scanning, there are a few things you can do to identify cause of scan failure.

What does Auto-Prescan Failed mean?

Your MRI performs system tuning during a pre-scan sequence and one of the expected elements of your scan may not present for successful completion of scan. Factors such as RF levels, receiver levels, coil SNR, gradient shimming, dynamic disable voltages, and much more are used to calculate settings for the next scan protocol.

What does Multicoil TR Bias Fault mean?

A multi-coil TR bias fault is an error message reporting that an open or short has been detected in one of the RF channels on your Head port or multicoil port.

It is recommended to view error log to gather details specifying whether your scan issue is open/short and coil type.

Common causes: Wrong coil selected in scan protocol, bad coil connection, bad coil, issues with MRI hardware

How to fix Multi-coil TR bias fault

1. Most issues arise from using presaved protocols with wrong coil selected. Check scan protocol for coil selection option. Make sure proper coil is selected. If correct coil is selected, proceed to step 2.
2. Many scan failures can be caused by improperly seated coil connections or connections that may come loose during scanning due to vibration. Check all of your coil connections. Remove all coil connections and plug connections back in firmly. Remove coil-to-doghouse connections and seat firmly into position.

3. If the above steps did not resolve your issue, then you most likely have hardware issues. Check your MRI system message log for details of your scan failure (instructions and video below). Consider running MCQA tool on suspect coil.

*Your field service engineer will be able to isolate whether your issue is with MRI coil or MRI system hardware related.

Expert Advice: Does your error message log failure indicate an “open in channel 1?” You are most likely experiencing improperly seated coil or wrong coil selection. By the same token, does your error log message read “short circuit” or errors regarding channels 2 and higher? You are most likely experiencing issues with a bad coil or MRI system hardware. Read below for a quick guide in viewing error message log.

5. Patient Comfort Sensor Tripped (Warning)

Patient comfort related errors indicate the internal temperature of the MRI bore is increasing or has reached maximum threshold temperature.

Your MRI bore is embedded with temperature sensor that will function as a fail-safe for your system. Maximum temperature allowable in your MRI bore is 84 degrees Fahrenheit, after which point your software will restrict system scanning.

Warnings will be given once your internal bore temperature is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

What causes Patient Comfort Sensor Warnings and Patient Comfort Sensor Trips?

Patient comfort sensor warnings can occur more often as outside temperatures rise during the summer months, especially if your chiller unit is located outdoors.

Warning messages are indicative of rising internal temperatures and may be a result of low chiller flow, high chiller output temperature, obstructed coolant lines, leak in coolant system, or issues with patient blower/body blower assembly.

“Patient comfort sensor tripped” error message will appear if your internal MRI temperature has reached temperatures above 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Scanning will be inhibited until system has cooled. If your MRI is not scanning at this time, it is best to call your MRI service provider or preferred chiller service company.

How to resolve patient comfort sensor warning or patient comfort sensor tripped error

Most likely cause will be chiller related, so it is best to start your inspection with the water chiller unit

Check power to your chiller assembly and make sure chiller is running. Are the fans running? Is it low on glycol coolant? Does your chiller show low flow? Also, inspect maintenance records in this case.

Water chiller output lines should be cool to the touch. If your water lines are warm or hot, issues are most likely within water chiller unit.

Secondly, inspect the patient blower assembly. Your patient blower assembly is the white box sitting in the corner behind your MRI. While it is not the main source of extracting heat from your MRI, your patient blower fan provides quick evacuation of stagnate hot air build up.

Are the patient blower fans on? Do you see any obstructions on the vents? Check all connections for tight seal. Many models come equipped with an adjustable output vent that can sometimes become stuck in the closed position.

Lastly, Inspect the floors for leaks. Leaks tend to build up out of sight at the base of the magnet. Move the front covers and inspect the base of the MRI for signs of leak.

If all signs are positive and you are still receiving a patient comfort warning, call your MRI service engineer for internal inspection of MRI components.

6. Numbers Not Visible At The Top of MRI

Did you notice that the numbers and LED’s on your MRI are off or not visible? Numbers missing from the top of your MRI display indicate your table encoder is not synced with your system. This condition will keep your MRI from scanning. Luckily, you can resolve this issue in a few simple steps.

Conclusion

There is always a solution to your system issues and our goal is to help you find it. Visit our Radiology Blog for more helpful guides, informative resources and amazing videos for your imaging needs.

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