Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Your physician has referred you to the Diagnostic Services Department at United Hospital Center for an Open MRI.

MRI is a computer assisted, diagnostic technique capable of gathering and displaying images and other information of the head and body without using ionizing radiation (x-ray). The MRI can produce 2 or 3 dimensional images of a patient's body by using a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer.

Patients with the following contraindications will not be eligible for a MRI examination: pacemaker, aneurysm clips in the brain, certain types of vena cava clips or filters, cochlear implants (ear), certain types of artificial heart valves, neurostimulators, certain types of IUD'S and metal in the eyes.

If any of the above contraindications are present, you must inform your physician BEFORE the MRI exam is performed or inform the MRI technologist BEFORE entering the scanning room.

Before the exam, you will be asked about your medical history, told about the scanning procedure, and asked to sign a consent form.

You must remove any metallic objects, such as jewelry, hairpins, glasses, wigs, and dentures. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown. You will be positioned lying down on a moveable table that will slide into the magnet. The magnet is a rectangle area and is open at both ends. You can communicate with the technologist during the procedure via microphone and a hand held signal device. While in the magnet, you will hear a series of knocking noises, which are caused by the internal workings of the magnet. It is important that you lie very still during the test for the best quality images.