ABSTRACT
The current world market of the MRI business in 2011 was approximatelly 3,100 systems per year. From that, 85 per cent (∼2,600 units) are made of NbTi low-temperature superconductor characterised by critical temperature T c = 11 K, and 15 per cent (∼500 units) are permanent systems based on hard permanent ferro-magnetic material NdFeB. Costs of the complete unit vary. An MRI system generating a field of 0.5 T may cost ∼US$0.4 million, whereas the 3.0 T system may cost US$1.7 million. The market value of the overall MRI business is US$3.2 billion.
