What Puts the Magnet into Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment?

That answer to that is easy, a huge magnet! The traditional shape of an MRI unit is a large cylinder tube that is surrounded by a circular magnet. When going in for an MRI, seeing the magnetic resonance imaging equipment for the first time can be quite a site, scary even, especially when the nurses or doctors tell you that you will have to lie down on a moveable examination table that will then be slid into the center of the MRI machine! For typically MRI machines that is the norm.

Not all magnetic resonance imaging equipment is made equal. There are some MRI machines, called short-bore systems that are designed so that the magnet does not completely surround the patient. There are even MRI machines that are completely open on all sides (known as an open-air MRI). These machines are particularly helpful with those who suffer from claustrophobia (having an irrational fear of closed in spaces) or obesity. Despite these perks, they may not be as helpful overall as the traditional MRI machines are as they may not provide the same image quality. Their usefulness is also limited, as there are some scans which they are not capable of doing.

Entering a room where there is magnetic resonance imaging equipment can not only be a bit intimidating, but also confusing. One will see a very large metal or plastic covered cylinder and a moveable examination table, and that could be it! What about the computer? Typically, the computer that processes the imaging information and the monitor for said computer are located in a separate room. This helps to avoid clutter and any unnecessary distractions to the patient during the actual MRI scan process. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment is improving all the time. It is getting smaller, cheaper, and more detailed. The hope is that advances in MRI equipment can lead to a better understanding of how the human body works, especially the brain and it’s internal functions and responses to certain stimuli.