What Alternatives to Traditional, Confining MRI Machines are Available?

Traditional MRI machines can cause feelings of claustrophobia, even in patients who do not generally experience it. Traditional closed MRIs are only about two feet in diameter, and most scans require the patient to lie inside of the machine for an extended period of time, which many people find difficult, even with sedation. Thankfully, there have been advances in MRI technology, with the implementation of machines that can be used without causing as much anxiety or discomfort. Read on to learn about the different MRI options that help to increase patient comfort:

Wide Short Bore MRI

While the patient still lies in a tube like they would in a traditional MRI machine, in our wide short bore MRI in New Jersey, there is more space between the patient’s head and the magnet, and many tests can be completed with the patient’s head outside of the bore, which helps to lessen feelings of claustrophobia. These machines are also typically newer and more advanced than a traditional MRI, offering faster scan times, which means less time in the machine.

Open MRI

This MRI machine does not use a tube at all, allowing for a much less confining experience for the patient. The design consists of a table that the patient lies on, with the magnets going over the top and bottom of the patient while still allowing a full view of the room that they are in. An open MRI is also less noisy than a traditional closed MRI machine.

Extremity MRI

This machine can scan a specific portion of the patient’s anatomy, such as their knee, elbow, ankle, foot, wrist, or hand, while the remainder of their body remains comfortably sitting or lying down outside of the machine. This leads to targeted, high-quality images of the specific area of concern, and significantly less stress on the patient during the process of obtaining the images.

Stand-Up MRI

This machine allows patients to be scanned while in the position that is causing their problem: sitting, standing, bending, or lying down. By obtaining images while the area of concern is engaged and bearing weight, physicians can get a better picture of what is causing the patient’s issue. There is no tube, and the patient’s head is completely exposed, allowing them to see everything that is in front of them, allowing for less of a confined feeling than a traditional machine.

Having an MRI scan performed no longer has to be an anxiety-causing experience, thanks to advances in MRI technology that include open, extremity, stand-up, and wide short bore MRI in New Jersey. ImageCare offers various different options throughout our locations, giving our patients the best choices when it comes to their MRI needs.