Founded by Stefano Vaccara

Subscribe for only $6/Year
  • Login
  • Register

Editor in Chief: Giampaolo Pioli

VNY La Voce di New York

The First Italian English Digital Daily in the US

English Editor: Grace Russo Bullaro

  • English Edition
  • Letters
  • New York
  • U.N.
  • News
  • People
  • Entertainment
  • Arts
  • Lifestyles
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Italian Edition
No Result
View All Result
VNY
  • English Edition
  • Letters
  • New York
  • U.N.
  • News
  • People
  • Entertainment
  • Arts
  • Lifestyles
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Italian Edition
No Result
View All Result
VNY La Voce di New York
No Result
View All Result
in
News
October 24, 2022
in
News
October 24, 2022
0

Running Out of Helium: Medical Industry Worried About Providing MRI’s

The war In Russia-Ukraine a contributing factor to the shortage

La Voce di New YorkbyLa Voce di New York
Running Out of Helium: Medical Industry Worried About Providing MRI’s

Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine. Photo: Wikipedia

Time: 2 mins read

It’s a little-known fact that MRI’s, one of the most widespread and useful medical diagnostic tools, relies on helium. Now that there is a global helium shortage doctors are worried about the ability to continue to provide them as needed.

The lighter-than-air element that gives balloons their buoyancy also powers the MRI machine. It can’t function without some 2,000 liters of ultra-cold liquid helium keeping its magnets cool enough to work. But helium — a nonrenewable element found deep within the Earth’s crust — is running low, leaving hospitals wondering how to plan for a future with a much scarcer supply.

“Helium has become a big concern,” said Mahadevappa Mahesh, professor of radiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore. “Especially now with the geopolitical situation.”

The shortage is new, but helium has been an unpredictable commodity for years. This is especially true in the U.S., where a Texas-based federal helium reserve is dwindling as the government tries transferring ownership to private markets.

Until this year, the U.S. was counting on Russia to ease the tight supply. An enormous new facility in eastern Russia was supposed to supply nearly one-third of the world’s helium, but a fire last January derailed the timeline. Although the facility could resume operations any day, the war in Ukraine has, for the most part, stopped trade between the two countries.

Now, four of five major U.S. helium suppliers are rationing the element, said Phil Kornbluth, president of Kornbluth Helium Consulting. These suppliers are prioritizing the health care industry by reducing helium allotments to less essential customers in the hope that the shortage will not have a negative impact on the medical diagnostic sector.

“Helium is on allocation for sure,” said Donna Craft, a regional construction manager for Premier Health who contracts with helium suppliers for some 4,000 hospitals. “We’re probably not blowing up balloons in the gift shop anymore.”

 

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
La Voce di New York

La Voce di New York

DELLO STESSO AUTORE

Campobasso: terremoto di magnitudo 4.6, cittadini in strada

Campobasso: terremoto di magnitudo 4.6, cittadini in strada

byLa Voce di New York
Diritti umani, l’ONU accusa la Libia: impunità per violenze contro i migranti

Diritti umani, l’ONU accusa la Libia: impunità per violenze contro i migranti

byLa Voce di New York

A PROPOSITO DI...

Tags: HeliumHelium shortageMedical diagnosticsMRI machineRussia-Ukraine War
Previous Post

Grande successo nel Queens per il primo torneo di bocce CONI-Comites

Next Post

Just in Time for Halloween, It’s Bat Week in New York

Discussion about this post

DELLO STESSO AUTORE

Sparatoria Michigan: il sospetto killer si è suicidato

12enne accoltella coetaneo in una scuola media: paura a Long Island

byLa Voce di New York
Iconic Italian Filmmaker Liliana Cavani at Italian Institute of Culture -NY

Iconic Italian Filmmaker Liliana Cavani at Italian Institute of Culture -NY

byLa Voce di New York

Latest News

Il Consiglio di Sicurezza con Guterres contro il “flagello terrorismo” in Africa

Il Consiglio di Sicurezza con Guterres contro il “flagello terrorismo” in Africa

bySimone d'Altavilla
Campobasso: terremoto di magnitudo 4.6, cittadini in strada

Campobasso: terremoto di magnitudo 4.6, cittadini in strada

byLa Voce di New York

New York

Brooklyn Banks: surfando su onde d’asfalto

Brooklyn Banks: surfando su onde d’asfalto

byMaria Teresa Zonca
Macy’s Stunning Flower Show, in Partnership with Dior, Now to April 10

Macy’s Stunning Flower Show, in Partnership with Dior, Now to April 10

bySunny Day

Italiany

La crisi dell’istruzione nel mondo: 2/3 dei bambini non capiscono cosa leggono

Master Fondazione Italia-Usa: altre 200 borse di studio “Next Generation”

byLa Voce di New York
World Pasta Day: negli USA sempre più Made in Italy grazie all’ICE

World Pasta Day: negli USA sempre più Made in Italy grazie all’ICE

byNicola Corradi
Next Post
Just in Time for Halloween, It’s Bat Week in New York

Just in Time for Halloween, It's Bat Week in New York

La Voce di New York

Editor in Chief:  Giampaolo Pioli   |   English Editor: Grace Russo Bullaro

  • New York
    • Eventi
  • Onu
  • News
    • Primo Piano
    • Politica
    • Voto Estero
    • Economia
    • First Amendment
  • People
    • Nuovo Mondo
  • Arts
    • Arte e Design
    • Spettacolo
    • Musica
    • Libri
    • Lingua Italiana
  • Lifestyles
    • Fashion
    • Scienza e Salute
    • Sport
    • Religioni
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
    • Italia
  • Mediterraneo
  • English
  • Search/Archive
  • About us
    • Editorial Staff
    • President
    • Administration
    • Advertising

VNY Media La Voce di New York © 2016 - 2022
Main Office: 230 Park Avenue, 21floor, New York, NY 10169 | Editorial Office/Redazione: UN Secretariat Building, International Press Corps S-301, New York, NY 10017

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • New York
  • Onu
  • News
    • Elezioni 2022
    • Primo Piano
    • Politica
    • Economia
    • First Amendment
  • Arts
    • Speciale Venezia
    • Arte e Design
    • Spettacolo
    • Musica
    • Libri
  • Lifestyles
    • Fashion
    • Scienza e Salute
    • Sport
    • Religioni
  • Food & Wine
    • Cucina Italiana
  • Travel
    • Italia
  • English
    • Arts
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Food & Wine
    • Letters
    • Lifestyles
    • Mediterranean
    • New York
    • News
  • Subscribe for only $6/Year

© 2016/2022 VNY Media La Voce di New York

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In
By clicking on "Create my account" or by registering, you accept the Term of Service and the Privacy Policy.

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?