About Your Exam
Preparing for your MRI
No special preparation is required prior to the Open MRI exam. You may eat normally and go about your daily routine. When you arrive for your exam, you will be taken through a simple explanation of the procedure, as well as a thorough check for contraindication.
Electromechanical implants such as cardiac pacemakers, cochlear implants, and neurotransmitters may need to be “frozen” or switched off in the presence of the magnetic field. Ferromagnetic clips are highly dangerous because the torque induced by the magnetic field could potentially dislodge a recently implanted clip.
Similar concern should be expressed for any patient with a history of metalworking, because tiny metal fragments may be imbedded in their eye. To prevent any possibility of optic damage, these patients should be screened with plain films prior to their MRI exam.
Other items to consider are the presence of implants and similar items. Please inform your physician or MRI technologist if you have had any brain, ear, eye or other surgeries or any of the following:
- Pacemaker
- Aneurysm clips
- Shrapnel
- Pregnancy
- Hearing Aid
- Metal implants
- Surgical staples
- Cochlear implant
You may also be asked to remove make-up and dentures. In some rare cases patients will be asked to wear a hospital gown to avoid magnetic interference from belt buckles, buttons, and zippers.
Once you are situated on the table, make sure you are comfortable so that it is easy to remain still for the duration of the examination, which is usually between 30 and 45 minutes. Breathe normally. Once the examination has begun, you will hear a knocking sound that is a result of the changing magnetic field. This is a normal part of the imaging process.
At the conclusion of the exam, the technologist will assist you out of the scan room.
Claustrophobic and Larger Patients
Most patients who are referred for Closed MRI report some degree of claustrophobia. In fact, many patients do not know they are claustrophobic and experience it for the first time in a magnetic resonance scanner. This may be especially true for larger patients. At Bitterroot Imaging Open MRI, the spacious, open-style design of the Hitachi Altaire offers the most open gantry of any other open MRI on the market, eliminating the "tunnel effect" common to other scanners, and allowing us to accommodate patients up to 500 pounds. Claustrophobia is virtually eliminated by the roomy feeling of Open MRI, and the response from our patients has been overwhelming. They are truly thrilled that we offer Open MRI!
