What Kinds Of Machines Are Used To Perform MRI?
The patient’s scan will be performed in a room containing “the magnet.” The MRI unit looks like a large box with an open-ended tunnel running through the middle. Many different kinds are in use, but they all work in the same way. The patient will be asked to lie on a comfortable, padded table that is gently moved into the opening of the magnet where the scanning is performed. Sometimes a “coil,” which is really just a special radio receiver, will be placed around the body part being scanned (the patient’s head, or knee, or stomach, etc.). The data from the scan is fed into computers that compose the very clear pictures. What Happens The Day Of The Exam? The patient should allow about an hour for the MRI exam, although most scans require less time. Unless the patient’s doctor says otherwise, the patient can eat normally the day of the exam. The patient should not wear any makeup, because some brands contain metallic components. On arrival at the MRI center, the patient will be asked to
