A 70-centimeter bore at 1.5T field strength is the Aera's defining specification, and it changes the patient population that walks through your facility's door. Claustrophobic patients, larger patients, and pediatric cases requiring parental presence during scanning are all more manageable in the Aera's bore diameter than in a standard 60-centimeter system. For a practice that sees a mixed patient population with any significant volume of anxiety-prone or larger-framed individuals, the Aera's wide bore is not a luxury specification, it is a clinical and operational necessity. We structure Aera financing with that business context in mind: the incremental cost over a standard-bore 1.5T is real, and the incremental revenue from retaining patients who would otherwise require sedation or be referred out is equally real.
Aera installations range from straightforward replacements of older wide-bore systems to greenfield builds in new imaging suites. The wide bore does not materially change the RF shielding requirements compared to a standard Siemens 1.5T, but the bore length and weight affect room layout planning. Our financing covers the full project, including room shielding, chiller systems, and any siting work required, alongside the magnet purchase. We operate from a $50,000 minimum, and most Aera projects run well above that threshold when all installation components are included.
New Aera vs. Refurbished Aera
The Magnetom Aera has been in the market long enough to generate a substantial refurbished inventory. A refurbished Aera from an OEM-certified refurbisher typically comes with a known software generation, documented service history, and pricing that can be considerably below a new system. For a practice that wants wide-bore 1.5T capability without the new-system price point, a well-refurbished Aera is worth serious evaluation. We finance refurbished Aera systems under our used equipment financing program, and the documentation requirements are straightforward: OEM certification paperwork, the vendor's inspection report, and the equipment purchase agreement.
A new Aera purchased directly from Siemens Healthineers comes with current software, full warranty coverage, and the ability to specify exact configuration. New-system financing supports the widest range of structures, from standard loans to operating leases designed to align with a multi-year equipment plan. Practices that are replacing a system and plan to continue upgrading on a regular cycle often prefer a fair market value lease that preserves flexibility at end of term, rather than a dollar buyout structure that commits to ownership of aging hardware.
Imaging Facilities That Choose the Aera
Orthopedic clinics and sports medicine practices frequently select the Aera because their patient population skews toward larger-framed athletes and industrial workers who find standard-bore systems uncomfortable or unusable. A wide-bore system reduces the rate of incomplete exams and re-scans from patient movement, which directly affects throughput and revenue. Outpatient imaging centers marketing themselves as patient-friendly alternatives to hospital radiology departments point to the wide bore as a differentiator in markets where patient experience drives referral volume.
Oncology practices and centers that perform a significant volume of pediatric cases also find the Aera's bore useful, since it permits positioning flexibility and in some pediatric protocols allows a parent to remain in the room for support. These use cases are not niche considerations; they reflect the practical reality that a practice turning away or sedating patients because of bore anxiety is leaving revenue on the table and affecting patient satisfaction metrics that matter to referring physicians and health systems.
What We Need to Structure an Aera Approval
For Aera transactions up to approximately $400,000, our application-only process requires a one-page credit application and the equipment quote from your vendor. We return a credit decision within 24 hours in most cases. For projects above that threshold, which includes many new Aera installations with full siting, three months of bank statements and a brief financial summary allow underwriters to complete the review. Practices that have been operating for at least two years and can demonstrate scan revenue history have the cleanest path through the process.
B and C credit borrowers are considered on Aera projects. We evaluate the full operating picture: revenue stability, existing debt obligations, the clinical case for adding or upgrading a wide-bore system, and the market characteristics of the facility's service area. A single difficult credit year does not automatically preclude an approval, particularly if the practice has recovered operationally and the equipment investment has a clear revenue rationale. For practices with genuinely complex credit situations, a B/C credit MRI financing review early in the process is the right first step.
Refinancing or Sale-Leaseback on an Existing System
If your practice already owns an MRI system outright or has built significant equity in one, a sale-leaseback on that existing system can release that capital to fund an Aera acquisition without a new cash equity requirement. These structures are not universally appropriate but they are worth evaluating when an existing system carries meaningful residual value. The proceeds can fund siting work, the down payment on the new system, or other practice capital needs, while the existing system continues operating until the Aera is commissioned.
Aera Financing Questions
Get Your Magnetom Aera Financing Started
Wide-bore 1.5T financing for outpatient, orthopedic, and imaging center buyers. Application-only up to approximately $400,000. B/C credit considered. Decisions in 24 hours. Contact us with your vendor quote to begin.