How 'Open' Are Open MRIs?
Descriptions and examples of Open MRI machines are presented in two views.
Some 'open' MRIs aren't always so open.
You've probably heard of 'open' MRIs and many imaging facilities now offer these types of open machines. The ones that truely are more open can help reduce a lot of a patient's MRI anxiety, claustrophobia or stress. They can even provide better imaging for obese or extremely large people. However, some advertised open MRIs are not as open as you might think.
Traditionally, lying on a flat table or bed and sliding into a tube was the MRI exam norm. The size of the tube or the opening around you was the criteria for how 'open' the MRI was - the bigger the tube or it's hole, the more open it was considered to be. The problem with these style machines is the patient still is in a very limited space. In some cases, a patient’s weight or height could even prevent them from getting an MRI even with certain open machines altogether.
As more and more advancements occur in the field, MRIs are providing more and more space around the person's body. It's now possible to actually sit for some MRIs with nothing in front of you. However, the older tube models still exist and they should. They can provide quality images, sometimes even better than the more open models, and that's what might be the most important criteria of all.
Today, even the smallest of tube MRIs are still advertised and labeled as 'open' even if they are just a few inches away from your nose when you're slid in. So it's always good to know what you're getting into before you get into it.
How can you know which MRI machines are open, which are really open and which are really, really open? There are three different types of open MRI machine constructions:
Semi-open, high-field MRI scanners
Semi-open, high-field MRI scanners provide an ultra short bore (tunnel) and widely flared ends. In this type of MRI systems, patients lie with the head in the space outside the bore, if for example the hips are examined. Find out more here.
Open, Low-Field MRI scanners
Open, low-field MRI machines have often a wide open design, e.g. an open C-arm scanner is shaped like two large discs separated by a large pillar. Patients have an open sided feeling and more space around them allows a wider range of positions. Find out more here.
Advanced Open MRI scanners
Advanced open MRI scanners combine the advantages of both, the high field strength, newest gradient technology and wide open design. Even scans of patients in upright, weight-bearing positions are possible, including sitting or even standing with nothing in front of you. Find out more here.
With all this, the best way to know how open the machine for your MRI exam really is would be to call your doctor or imaging facility and ask them if you can take see it in person. It's not out of the question to even give it a test run. Well, maybe a test lying down.
Getting a MRI:
Find out what the experience is like and what you should expect.
Before the MRI
During the MRI
After the MRI
GO TO MAIN MRI PAGE
The future of MRI scanning is wide open.
MRI technology has dramatically advanced in the past few years and what was once considered an 'open' MRI has even evolved. MRI machines are advancing in new ways to better the image quality, provide faster exam times, lessen the noise from the machine itself and even provide better patient comfort. And not to be all geeky about it, but some of the newer machines look really cool.
Newer open MRI machines differ most to the traditional MRIs in the fact that now, instead of lying on a table and sliding into a narrow tunnel, the table itself has more space all around the patient’s body. Sometimes not even a tube or table at all. With advancements in certain machines, patients are now able to sit or even stand during their MRI exam.
Recently, short bore magnets have been developed that combine the accuracy of a tunnel scanner and the comfort of an open MRI scan. Although they are not completely open, they are much less constrictive because of the short bore magnet (shorter tunnels), but can produce a high-field. This in theory and design can help prevent a lot of unnecessary MRI anxiety and can even allow extremely large patients to be tested.
Search our list of the more popular MRI machines.
The list will include pictures and descriptions for you to reference when talking with an MRI imaging facility or center. Remember, they are only pictures. Only visiting or viewing the actual machine in person will give you the truest understanding of what it is like.
NOTEWORTHY: Open MRI (Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging) use the same, advanced diagnostic imaging procedure as traditional MRI machines. Both create detailed images of internal bodily structures without the use of x-rays, using instead a powerful magnet, radiowaves and a computer. In some cases, these 'open' machines might not provide as good of a quality image as those not so open, but people often feel more comfortable with them. Or rather, in them.
SEND US YOUR VIEW
We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Types of MRIs
Abdomen • Adrenal Glands • Appendix • Back • Bile Ducts • Bladder • Blood Vessels • Bone • Bowel • Brain • Breast • Cervical Spine • Cervix • Chest • Disc • Fallopian Tube • Fetus • Foot • Full Body • Gallbladder • Head • Heart • Joint • Kidney • Leg • Liver • Lumbar • Lymph Nodes • MRA • Neck • Nose • Overies • Pancreas • Pelvis • Penis • Prostate • Scrotum • Shoulder • Spine • Spleen • Testicles • Tumor • Urethra • Uterus • Vertebrae • Whole Body
GO TO MAIN MRI PAGE
WHO WE ARE
In 2009 we wondered, why there wasn't a website where you could see different views on the same page? So we created Two Views®. To this day, over 2,000,000 people have visted our site. Read more...
TWO VIEWS® TOPICS
Angiograms
CT and CAT Scans
Echocardiograms
Mammograms
MRI and MRA Scans
Ultrasounds
X-Rays
Celebrity Medical Images
Animal Medical Images
Unusual Medical Images
Insane Injury Images
Healthy or Unhealthy?
Wisdom in Two Views
GET IN TOUCH
Two Views®3840 Cadella Circle
Naperville, Illinois 60564
ADVERTISE WITH US
See how your company can get seen and clicked! Find out how...