Technology and Equipment

Standing MRI

Standing MRIs allows patients to walk in and be scanned while standing. Standing MRIs allows the spine, joints and other parts of the body to be imaged in the weight bearing state. In theory, if one can scan the patient in a load-bearing position, one can more accurately identify the precise source of pain. The standing MRI can also image someone in various positions (flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending.) Currently, standing radiographs are used to examine patients in the standing position or other positions.

Standing MRIs are equipped with a system that positions the patient in the magnet and places the anatomy of interest at the center of the magnet gap. The standing MRI can also rotate a patient from the vertical to the horizontal position so the patient can be scanned lying down. MRIs have also been developed that can scan patients in a sitting position.