As its name would indicate, a closed MRI, has a capsule-like design where the magnet surrounds the patient. An open MRI, to the contrary, has a magnet top and bottom, which allows for an opening on the sides. MRI scanners are measured in magnet strength in teslas or “T”, which can range between 0.5T and 3.0T.
Open MRI sounds more comfortable and freeing. However due to their open structure the images are significantly degraded in terms of visible details, they are lower quality. Lower quality images can lead to misdiagnosis or the wrong treatment.
An open MRI is more comfortable and easier to tolerate than traditional closed machines. Open MRIs have a clear view of the scan area, making them ideal for certain types of scans, such as brain scans.
Most people who have claustrophobia are able to tolerate the MRI scan in the open, upright MRI machine. This is the structure of most MRI machines that can only perform the imaging studies with the patient lying on their back on a table that is moved into the core of the magnetic field where the images are captured.
Open MRI machines have two flat magnets on the top and bottom areas, with a large space to accommodate the patient. The open space in between often alleviates discomfort or claustrophobia, as the patient is not fully enclosed. This design produces high quality images and provides optimal comfort.
Talk with your doctor about your claustrophobia and ask for a sedative to help. These sedatives may make you sleepy and often people will fall asleep during the MRI. Make sure you inform the staff that you have taken a sedative so they are aware and make certain you have a driver.
When patients are unable to remain still in an MRI machine for prolonged periods due to claustrophobia or other conditions, procedural sedation can enable them to endure the experience and get the valuable information that MRI can provide.
Not intentionally. Many of our examinations require your cooperation and ability to follow commands to hold your breath to produce the images required to make a diagnosis. For those examinations, we will not allow you to fall asleep.
For patients with anxiety disorders or sensory processing issues, an Open MRI takes one more thing off their minds. The open structure has proven to be more calming and comfortable for all patients, and the machine is quieter than the traditional model.
Since the open MRI system only uses magnets above and below you and not on all sides, it takes longer for the technologist to scan the targeted area, meaning it doesn't produce full images.
Many MRI procedures don't require your head to go inside the machine at all, but if you need a head or upper spine MRI, you'll appreciate the fact our machine provides a full 12 inches of clearance between your face and the wall – relieving stress for our patients with claustrophobia.
Open MRIs Are Quieter
MRI scanners are loud. The noise levels you experience compare to being at a rock concert with volumes as high as 110 decibels. Earplugs offer protection and are safe to use for an MRI scan, but they may interfere with necessary communication between you and your radiology technologist.
Instead of a tube, an open MRI has scanners on the sides with an opening on top, making it an outstanding option for those who have claustrophobia. The patient lays comfortably on a platform while the scanners on the sides do all the work.
Instead of an enclosed capsule, the open MRI uses a magnet top and bottom and is open on all four sides. These decrease the risk of claustrophobia and panic attacks exponentially and allows patients of all shapes and sizes to be able to make use of an MRI to accurately diagnose their problems.
A single scan may take a few seconds or 3 to 8 minutes. You may be asked to hold your breath during short scans. The total scan lasts 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being scanned and how many images are needed. You'll be moved out of the scanner when your scan is over.
It's important that patients remove all clothing prior to their MRI exam. We ask patients to remove: All outer clothing, including shoes. Bras or any undergarment that could have metal in it.
If You Have an Overactive Bladder
This feeling of urgency can make it harder to hold urine in. While you may still experience this urgency to a degree, not drinking for several hours before your procedure can make you less likely to experience incontinence during the scan.
For patients who may experience claustrophobia during an MRI scan and require prophylaxis, the University of Wisconsin Department of Radiology suggests the use of Lorazepam (Ativan, Temesta), a short-to-intermediate duration benzodiazepine.
The technologist will ask you several times to hold your breath and stay still to be able to get good pictures. You will be asked each time to hold your breath for twenty seconds. This part is very important because we cannot do the MRI examination, if you cannot hold your breath long enough.
You're surrounded by highly experienced people using state of the art equipment designed with patient safety in mind. You will not get stuck in an MRI machine, it simply doesn't happen.
Many patients find that an oral benzodiazepine, such as Xanax, Ativan, or Valium, taken prior to the exam sufficiently relieves their anxiety and allows them to complete an MRI with relative ease.
Both open or closed MRIs can provide accurate results. However, due to its design, in some cases an open MRI is not able to take images of certain areas of the body. Also, the images that are captured may be of lesser quality of that of a closed MRI. For this reason, certain scans must be taken with a closed MRI.