For many patients, the very thought of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) creates feelings of fear, anxiety, and claustrophobia. That's one reason the radiology department at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne is upgrading its technology to include the largest strength open MRI scanner available today.   

MRI is a medical diagnostic technique that uses magnets, radio waves, and computers to allow physicians to view highly detailed images of internal organs, muscles, nerves, and bone. The technology is often used to diagnose orthopedic injuries, tumors, infections in the brain, spine or joints, and strokes in their earliest stages.

In a closed MRI machine, the patient lies on his back and is slipped into a horizontal tube that runs through the magnet from front to back. An open MRI scanner is just as it sounds. Instead of lying in a narrow, tube shaped structure, the patient lies on an imaging table that is open on three sides.

Sue Johnson, MRI technician at Thomas Medical Center, explained the advantages of the facility's new machine. "We chose this particular style because the magnet loads the patient sideways instead of head to foot," Johnson said. "This method cuts down on the patient's anxiety."

The new MRI suite is also designed to be patient friendly. The room will be painted in soothing colors and a tray ceiling will make the suite look and feel larger. The ceiling tiles above the machine will include projected "sky factory" images.

"It's going to feel like you're lying on the ground, looking out and seeing the sky and trees up above," Fran Brill, Thomas Medical Center radiology manager said. "Also, patients will be able to listen to music during the procedure."    
Besides its open design, the new MRI scanner will offer physicians and patients technological advantages.

Kathy Linam, Thomas Hospital Radiology Director, said the larger strength open magnet would be especially useful for diagnosing orthopedic injuries. "With this machine, we have the flexibility to move the table and the area to be scanned closer to the middle of the magnet," Linam said. "This impacts the image quality and you get better film."

Linam said the open scanner would also be beneficial in diagnosing pediatric and larger patients and the larger machine will reduce the time of an MRI procedure. The scanner will operate in addition to Thomas Hospital's closed MRI machine and Thomas Medical Center's smaller open unit. For information about open MRI procedures, call 621-6445.