Sweaty palms, a pounding heart, shortness of breath. Patients with claustrophobia say the mere idea of an MRI makes their bodies react. But we talk to patients about what they did to face those fears and make it through the exam. One common factor: Rather than getting a traditional MRI, these patients found a High-field Open MRI. While a traditional MRI is often described as a \u201ctube\u201d or a \u201ctunnel\u201d, Dr. Joel Newman of the RAYUS Radiology says a High-field Open MRI looks, \u201cLike the buns of a hamburger without the hamburger in between.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, RAYUS technologist Melissa West says there\u2019s a mixed message for patients about MRI machines. Some companies call their scanners \u201copen\u201d when they\u2019re really just a slightly wider version of that \u201ctube\u201d or \u201ctunnel\u201d style scanner (aka Wide-bore MRI). West says a lot of her patients have been confused and booked appointments elsewhere, only to find out the \u201cOpen MRI\u201d wasn\u2019t really open. She says when they come to RAYUS, \u201cThey\u2019re very satisfied with our machine. It\u2019s truly open.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claustrophobics say there is a major difference between the experience in a real Open MRI and any other MRI scan because:<\/p>\n
The first step for patients in need of an MRI is to understand what kind of machine will be used. To know what to look for in a real Open MRI, watch this video:<\/p>\n