Case Study: Using Benchtop Incubators as Contrast Warmers in Healthcare

In modern medical imaging, small changes can make a big difference in patient care. One overlooked yet critical factor is the temperature of contrast media used in MRI and CT scans. When stored at room temperature, these agents can become too viscous, leading to injection difficulties and potential discomfort for patients. Finding a precise, reliable way to pre-warm contrast media can streamline procedures, enhance patient experience, and improve overall imaging efficiency.

Background

Medical imaging facilities rely on contrast media to enhance the quality of MRI and CT scans, allowing for better visualisation of blood vessels, organs, and tissues. However, intravenous contrast agents can be viscous when stored at room temperature, leading to higher injection resistance and potential discomfort for patients.

A specialist radiology clinic in Melbourne recognised the need to improve patient experience and injection efficiency by ensuring that contrast media were pre-warmed to body temperature (37°C) before administration.

Challenges

The clinic faced several operational and patient-care challenges:

1. Maintaining a Precise & Stable Temperature – Contrast media must be warmed to exactly 37°C to optimise viscosity and reduce injection resistance. Standard room temperature storage often led to inconsistent contrast delivery.
   
   
2. Ensuring Even Heat Distribution – Some warming methods resulted in uneven heating, creating temperature fluctuations that affected the consistency of contrast injections.
   
   
3. Limited Space in Imaging Rooms – The facility required a compact warming solution that could be placed near the CT and MRI rooms for quick and convenient access.
   
   
4. Compliance with Best Practices – The radiology clinic needed a solution that aligned with industry guidelines for contrast media warming, ensuring patient safety and comfort.

Solution

To address these challenges, the clinic incorporated a Thermoline benchtop incubator, traditionally used for laboratory applications but ideal for contrast media warming. The incubator provided:

• Accurate Digital Temperature Control – Maintained a constant 37°C, ensuring contrast media were at optimal viscosity before injection.
• Even Heat Distribution – Eliminated cold spots and ensured uniform warming of contrast bottles and prefilled syringes.
• Compact Benchtop Design – Allowed easy installation in MRI and CT scanning areas for quick access by radiologists and nurses.
• User-Friendly Operation – Staff could easily monitor and adjust temperatures to meet specific requirements.

Outcome

By utilising the Thermoline incubator as a contrast media warmer, the clinic achieved multiple benefits:

• Improved Patient Comfort – Pre-warmed contrast media reduced discomfort and minimised the risk of vein irritation or injection site pain.
• Optimised Injection Performance – The decreased viscosity of warmed contrast media led to smoother injections, improving scan quality and reducing injection time.
• Enhanced Operational Efficiency – Having contrast media ready at the optimal temperature reduced preparation time and ensured smooth workflow during high-demand imaging sessions.
• Regulatory Compliance – The incubator helped maintain best practices in contrast media handling, ensuring consistent, high-quality patient care.

Conclusion

By repurposing a benchtop incubator as a contrast warmer, the radiology clinic significantly improved patient experience, workflow efficiency, and injection consistency. The success of this implementation has led other imaging facilities to adopt similar incubator solutions for their contrast media management.

Enhance patient comfort and imaging accuracy with a trusted temperature control solution. Thermoline benchtop incubators offer precise heating, compact design, and effortless operation—perfect for medical imaging facilities.

Discover how Thermoline can support your workflow today.