Open Bore MRI to Meet Your Patients’ Needs

Many medical modalities are made with a one-size-fits-all mentality, with adjustable moving pieces to modify minor details such as the size of the patient. However, there are the outliers, who do not fit the mold that medical equipment was made for, and not being able to accommodate this population puts them at a significant disadvantage. If you strive to provide the best treatment to all of your patients, you’ll want to look into equipment that suits the needs of all of your patients. Here, we will discuss MRI and CT machines, specifically, and how you can help better serve the patients who are unable to use traditional medical imaging equipment.

Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia, or the extreme fear of confined places, can be debilitating for those who suffer from it. Because of the nature of the MRI procedure, many people who suffer from claustrophobia may avoid or forego their MRIs because being in a closed space for the 30 to 45 minutes it takes to complete the procedure is completely overwhelming and terrifying. For those who suffer from even the mildest cases or even anxiety, there are MRI options that may help ease their fears and anxieties. These options include the high-field open MRI machine that is open on the sides, rather than the standard tube-like machine. The high-field MRI machine also lacks the mechanism that touches the shoulders and sides of the patient, allowing them to have the sense of not being enclosed.

Bariatric Patients

Obesity has become an epidemic over the last few decades, with the rate of obese residents rising to more than 34 percent, with an estimated rate of nearly 50 percent by 2030. Obesity affects all aspects of healthcare, including diagnostic medical imaging. Because larger patients may not fit in traditional MRI or CT scanner machines, it may be necessary to purchase larger medical imaging equipment to accommodate patients of all sizes. CT and MRI machines for the bariatric population includes features such as a higher table load limit — increasing the load from 350 pounds to over 800 pounds —, a larger gantry aperture, and a larger scan field of view. A common problem in bariatric diagnostic imaging is the image noise that is commonly caused by the larger mass. This can be solved by a high tube current and voltages. Open bore systems are able to accommodate a variety of patient sizes for a semi- one-size-fits-all option.

Inability to Lay Down

The traditional MRI machines and most medical imaging modalities are created to be used on patients who are laying down. While this is handy for managing both conscious and unconscious patients, there are those who are unable to lay down. Perhaps they are unable to lay down due to a spinal injury, incredible pain, or overwhelming claustrophobia. Whatever the case may be, there are solutions for these patients! The open upright MRI allows patients to either sit or stand. The added benefit is that there is nothing in front of the patient’s face, so they don’t have to feel like they are sitting in a box for the duration of the exam.

If you are in the market for an MRI or CT machine that accommodates a wider variety of patients, contact us at Bravo Imaging. We are the Miami area’s premier medical imaging equipment sales and service provider. We offer a wide variety of MRI and CT scan machines to meet the needs of all clinics and their patients. Because we sell both new and refurbished machines, we are able to compete with any diagnostic equipment retailer. Contact us today for more information.