Technology and Equipment

Open MRI

Open MRI has become the best option for those patients who are claustrophobic or, for health related reasons, are not able to receive this type of diagnostic test.

The difference between an 'Open' MRI and a 'traditional' MRI is primarily patient comfort. Traditional MRI systems are usually noisy. During the exam, patients may feel claustrophobic because they must lie still inside an enclosed tube.

The basic technology of an open MRI is similar to that of a traditional MRI test. The major difference for the patient is that instead of lying in a narrow, tube-shaped structure, the patient lies on a cushioned imaging table with more space around the body. Just above the patient is a large, round mechanism from which electromagnetic waves are transmitted. Like the traditional MRI, an open MRI test is also painless and does not use ionizing radiation. Pre-testing preparation is the same for both MRI tests. Physician recommendation is necessary for some open MRI procedures.