Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Types of MRI Scanners

Hi friends!!!


In our previous blogs, we have discussed about MRI scanner. Please check out for the links below.


MRI scan 


MRI With Contrast


Brain MRI


In today's blog we are going to discuss about types of MRI scanners.


The innovation of MRI scanners has created a revolution in the field of medical diagnostics. In that there are various types of MRI scanners which adds value to the medical diagnostics field. Therefore it is important for every healthcare professionals to know about types MRI scanners.

 

Let's get into the topic. 


WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF MRI

SCANNERS?


We can classify different types MRI scanners based on the strength of magnetic fields and based on the structure and design. With respect to strength of the magnetic fields, most of the MRI scanners available today are from 0.2 Tesla – 3 Tesla. The 1.5 Tesla magnetic strength is commonly used in most MRI scanners which is ideal for abdomen and chest imaging.


Based on the structure and design there are five different types of MRI scanners. They are as follows.


1. Closed MRI scanner.

2. Open MRI scanner.

3. Open upright MRI scanner.

4. Wide bore MRI scanner.

5. 3 Tesla MRI scanner.


CLOSED MRI SCANNER


The closed MRI scanners are one of the traditional types of MRI scanners. In closed MRI scanner, the patient’s will be laid down in a large fully enclosed MRI tube. Since the tube is fully enclosed, claustrophobic patient’s might feel discomfort.


Because of the smaller opening in closed MRI scanner, it is difficult to examine the obese and over weighted patient’s. This type of closed MRI scanner also requires patients to be still without any movement. 



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OPEN MRI SCANNER


The open MRI scanner is one of the types of MRI scanners introduced to provide comfort for claustrophobic patient’s. The open MRI scanner has opening on the sides. The patient’s may still require to lie down on the sliding MRI table, but the MRI tube is not fully enclosed which allows patient’s to feel comfortable in open MRI scanner.


The image quality of open MRI scanner is little less when compared to the closed MRI scanner. The open design of MRI tube does not help in providing strong magnetic fields like closed MRI scanner which results in lesser image quality.


OPEN UPRIGHT MRI SCANNER


The open upright MRI scanner allows patient’s to sit upright during the imaging procedure similar to sitting in a chair. These types of open upright MRI scanner is completely open on front side. Open upright MRI scanner has the lowest magnetic strength among the alternatives. The open upright MRI scanner is mainly used for imaging the spine and joints.


WIDE BORE MRI SCANNER


The wide bore MRI scanner is similar to open MRI scanner with wider openings and better head space than closed MRI scanner. The wide bore MRI scanner has a bore diameter of 70 cm providing more headroom space than open and closed MRI scanners. The wide bore MRI scanner is specially designed to accommodate the obese patient’s. These types of wide bore MRI scanners mostly operate at 1.5 Tesla magnetic strength.


3 TESLA MRI SCANNER


The unit of measurement used to define the strength of magnetic fields is Tesla. Mostly all the types of MRI scanners use 1.5 Tesla whereas 3 Tesla MRI scanner uses magnetic fields having double the strength of traditional MRI scanners. The 3 Tesla MRI scanner is also a type of closed MRI scanner.


These types of 3 Tesla MRI scanner produces high quality images which eliminates the need for repeated scans. The 3 Tesla MRI scanner can produce smaller details of brain as much as 1 millimeter. The 3 Tesla MRI scanners are also used for imaging the spine, soft tissue of bone joints, inside of bones and blood vessels.



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Now I hope you have acquired some knowledge about types of MRI scanners. We will discuss in detail about a topic related to Biomedical Engineering in our next blog.


NOTE: Dear friends!!!... Please do comment a topic related to Biomedical, so that we can discuss it in future blogs.


Check out for this blog about Computed Tomography and x ray.


Generations of CT Scanners


COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY|TECHNOLOGY|ARTIFACTS


x ray machine working principle


components of x ray tube


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