How MRI Works

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most advanced diagnostic tools available. MRI uses a combination of a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed high resolution images of the inside of the body without the use of the potentially harmful radiation used in conventional x-rays and CAT scans.

What is Open MRI?
Conventional and original MRI scanners require a patient to slide into a long, narrow and enclosed tunnel in order to have an exam. This is uncomfortable for many people and may even be impossible for larger patients or for someone who has claustrophobia. Open MRI allows the scan to be done while the patient lies comfortably on a padded table without having to enter an enclosed tunnel.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems are able to generate high-quality diagnostic images through the use of an effective, yet safe, magnetic field. Hydrogen protons within the body align with the magnetic field. By applying short radio frequency (RF) pulses to a specific anatomical slice, the protons in the slice absorb energy at this resonant frequency, causing them to spin perpendicular to the magnetic field. As the protons relax back into alignment with the magnetic field, a signal is received by an RF coil. This signal acts as an antenna, and is processed by a computer to produce diagnostic images of areas of the body. These continuous thin-slice images can be obtained at various angles for optimum clinical evaluation.

MRI is a convenient and safe diagnostic procedure for most patients. The system produces only a slight knocking sound, which represents changes in the magnetic field that are part of the imaging process.

The advantages of MRI are its easy operation and the fact that it does not utilize any form of ionizing radiation. The fact that there are no side -- or after -- effects associated with MRI further enhances its clinical acceptance. Thus, MRI can eliminate the need for other expensive or complicated diagnostic procedures.

Patient Safety
Contraindications do exist for some patients. Some objects, particularly metal objects, are incompatible with a strong magnetic field and can have potentially harmful effects. Patients are advised to notify their physician or MRI technologist if they have had brain, ear, eye, or other surgeries prior to their MR examination. Patients with the following medicals implants should avoid MR examinations:

MRI is not generally recommended for pregnant patients, especially during the first trimester.

MRI versus traditional X-ray
MRI offers the best of all imaging modalities because of its superior contrast differentiation between muscle, fat, vessels, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, cortical bone, and marrow bone space. MRI displays excellent delineation of soft tissue and bony tumors and is extremely useful in detecting avascular necrosis of bone, particularly of the hip. High-resolution knee imaging techniques provide unparalleled detail of the menisci, ligaments, and cruciates.

MRI is very well suited for the evaluation of ligaments, muscle, and bony abnormalities of the shoulder without the need for painful invasive procedures. MRI demonstrates similar advantages in imaging other complex anatomy, such as the elbow, wrist, foot, and ankle, due to its multiplanar imaging capability, its sensitivity to soft tissue and bone disease processes, and its ability to identify dislocations and fractures.



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