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Open MRI

Open MRI is abbreviation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This is a process used in hospitals to scan patients and determine the severity of some injuries. An open MRI scanner uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body. People go for common reasons to obtain MRI like a sprained ankle or back pain.

What should I do to prepare for an Open MRI?
No preparation is required before getting Open MRI. When you first arrive at the hospital, the doctor will ask you to change the gown. You will also be asked to remove all items like jewellery, credit cards and any metal items. The reason for this is that open MRIs contain magnetes, which can interact with objects in your possession. In turn, there may be bad results and / or poor image quality.

Is an Open MRI going to hurt you?
You can take the breath of relax as it is not going to hurt you. The exam itself is a painless process which is noninvasive, which means that the body is not tampered in any way. Since humans are not capable of feeling any type of radio waves, patients will not feel anything. However, loud tapping noise will be experienced, because the magnets are turned on and off in the entire examination. There is no need to worry, though If you think the noise will bother you, then just ask the technician for a pair of earplugs to drown out the noise.

How long does it take to complete an Open MRI test?
The exam takes about 30 - 45 minutes. However, it may vary depending on the number of body parts being examined.

So how does it work?
A strong magnetic field is made by passing an electric current through the wire loop. Although this is happening, other coils send and receive radio waves in the magnet. It triggers the proton in the body to align itself. Once aligned, radio waves are absorbed by protons, that stimulate spinning. Energy is released after "exciting" the molecules, which in turn emits the energy signals raised by the coil. This information is then sent to the computer which processes all the received signals and generates it into an image. The final product is represented by the 3-D image of the fieldbeing examined.

What is claustrophobia and how to cope with claustrophobia in Open MRI?
Claustrophobia is a stressful situation which is not always the obvious reason. Identifying your own thoughts process and using them to control your symptoms is important for getting rid of both anxiety and fear.
There are some effective ways to reduce claustrophobia during the MRI scanning process. Most people suffering from claustrophobia may be afraid to go through deep diagnostic ultrasound imaging tests such as MRI scans due to fear of dark or enclosed places.