New MRI Technology Provides Greater Patient Comfort

A new state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine promises greater patient comfort through its faster speed and a wider bore.

"This will set a new standard for patient comfort and care,” said Neil Rofsky, M.D., director of BIDMC's MRI program, explaining this is the first ultra-short, wide-bore machine employed by a Boston area teaching hospital.

Unlike the standard MRI, which has a bore (central opening) of about 57 cm wide and 183 cm deep, the new MRI measures approximately 68.6 cm wide and is just 122 cm deep. "The additional 12 cm may not seem like much, but it makes a huge difference for patients, especially our larger patients and those who experience claustrophobia,” said MRI clinical manager Stephen Flaherty, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC; Boston, MA, USA), where the new unit was recently installed. Moreover, he reported that exams could be shorter due to the new scanner's innovative technology and hardware. Unique to this machine is a skylight style image of palm trees, which is also hoped to help soothe patient concerns before and during the exams.

In use since late May 2008, the staff has already noticed a marked improvement for many patients, according to Dr. Rofsky. "Our nurse practitioner has reported some previous patients who required sedative medicines prior to the exam haven't needed any with this new machine.”

MRI technology is particularly useful in helping clinicians and technologists visualize the structure and function of the entire body, including skeletal, tissue, metabolic differences, oxygenation, and even temperature, according to Dr. Rofsky. "Imaging in general is a filter of all the services we offer in the medical center,” he said.

The MRI scanner, called the Magentom Espree, was developed by Siemens Healthcare (Erlangen, Germany).

Related Links:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Siemens Healthcare