Open MRI in Newport Beach, Orange County

Advanced Imaging Newport Coast offers the Airis Open MRI from Hitachi Medical Systems. The main advantage of the Open MRI from the patient perspective is a much more comfortable experience. Previously, having an MRI meant being placed in a narrow tube for an extended period of time. The Open MRI offers the same excellent images of the body without the discomfort of other MRI's.

How Does Open MRI Help Me and My Medical Team?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one form of imaging used by physicians to obtain clinically useful diagnostic information. Incorporating advanced technology, Open MRI produces images of anatomy without the use of radiation required with other imaging modalities, such as x-ray and CT scanning.

Open MRI combines the physical properties of strong magnetic fields with radio waves to produce computer-generated soft tissue images within any plane of the body. This popular imaging technique can be used as a primary diagnostic tool to provide a quick and accurate diagnosis for your physician. In some situations, Open MRI can reduce the need for further diagnostic procedures or invasive procedures, such as exploratory surgery, that may have associated complications.

Open MRI is a noninvasive procedure with no known side or after effects. The procedure is painless; in fact, you won't see or feel anything. A faint knocking sound will be heard from the machine, which is simply the imaging process in operation.

The benefits of Open MRI are many, and new applications are being continually developed through ongoing research. The procedure is used for all parts of the body and is effective in the clinical evaluation of the following conditions:

• Brain Tumors
• Traumatic Injuries
• Eye Abnormalities
• Spine diseases
• Tumor detection
• Liver and other abdominal diseases
• Knee and shoulder injuries
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Facial/Neck abnormalities
• Infection
• Cardiac Malformations
• Blood flow and vessel disorders

How does Open MRI Operate?
MRI images are formed when signals emitted by body tissue are processed by software and turned into clinical images. These signals are generated using a safe magnetic field in combination with radio waves of a specific frequency. Different tissue characteristics are translated into different contrast levels on the image.

A typical Open MRI procedure averages 30 minutes or longer, depending on the type of information required by your physician. You can help to make your image as clean as possible by relaxing and remaining still during the exam. Some patients even fall asleep during the MRI exam.

What do I Have to do to Prepare for the Open MRI?
No special preparation is required prior to the Open MRI exam. You may eat normally and go about your daily routine. Continue to take any medication prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise specified.

Prior to entering the scan room for your exam, you will be asked to leave those items that are not compatible with a magnetic field in a safe place outside the scan room. Some of these items include:

• Coins
• Jewelry
• Watches
• Glasses
• Credit cards
• Hearing aids
• Keys
• Hair pins
• Other metal objects

You may also be asked to remove make-up and dentures and to wear a hospital gown to avoid magnetic interference from belt buckles and zippers.

Once you are situated on the table, make sure that you are comfortable so that it is easy to remain still for the duration of the examination. Breathe normally. Once the examination has begun, you will hear a knocking sound that represents changes in the magnetic field. This is a normal part of the Open MRI process. At the conclusion of the exam, the technologist will assist you out of the scan room.

As mentioned previously, you will be asked to leave items that are incompatible with the magnetic field outside of the scan room. Other items that may be incompatible are implants and similar items. Check with your physician or Open MRI technologist if you have had any brain, ear, or eye surgeries or have any of the following:

• Pacemaker
• Neurostimulator (TENS unit)
• Metal implants
• Intrauterine device (IUD), etc.
• Aneurysm clips
• Surgical staples
• Implanted drug infusion device

If you are pregnant, please notify your physican.