Open MRI Scanner

Josephine54

Hi Everyone, up until very recently they were open MRI scanners available in many Hospitals and Clinics etc. but they have all been withdrawn - none available in the Republic! Anyone know why?

kelle

I didn't know that! Has the Beacon withdrawn theirs? A very high percentage of patients end up refusing an MRI scan, and this was their only hope! Maybe one incident happened recently and this is the hysterical response. I'll try to find out, if anybody else could enlighten us it would be great.

Josephine54

Hi Kelle, yeah, I already tried the Beacon. Any info you can find would be great. Cheers

Josephine54

Incidentally I spoke with someone in the Hermitage Clinic this morning and they said that as far as they knew, an open MRI scanner will be available Dec/Jan at a Hospital/Clinic in Naas - anyone else hear about this?

Stepherunie

Did you try Blackrock Clinic?

I wouldn't suggest that they've suddenly been removed, but they are generally less popular then normal scanners as they have lower strength than a normal MRI Scanner.


A quick google search suggests that the Naas Clinic is getting a 1.5T Siemens Espree which is a wide bore MRI Machine rather than a open MRI scanner. Pics here

Josephine54

Yup tried the Blackrock Clinic without success - but thanks for the suggestion anyway and also the link about MRI scanner.

mrscanner

Hi Josephine,

Scanner at Naas is not an open scanner as such- it is a short bore scanner with a field strength of 1.5 Tesla (in other words the quality of the scans is as good as a closed longer bore unit) The scanner is located at the Vista Primary Health clinic and is installed but not sure if they are up and running at present.

There used to be an open scanner in the South Infirmary in Cork but I am not sure if it is still there.

There is an open scanner in Musgrave park hospital in Belfast.

The advantage of the open scanner is the benefits it provides to claustrophobic patients but it does come at a price. True open scanners are of lower field strenth (0.5 Tesla) and as a result image quality is reduced, scans tend to take longer per sequence and some areas of the body should not be scanned using them- for example abdomens and pelvis.

If you need any more advice then send a PM and I will help as much as I can. I know a bit about this as my log in name suggests.

Good luck with the scan-even the closed scanners are now no where near as frightening as they once were I am sure you will get through it no problem.

Vista Naas

Hi everyone,

Vista Medical Imaging in Naas, which is situated on the Ballymore Road, directly opposite Naas General Hospital. (Direct line into imaging is 045 88 11 24 or email address is imaging@vistaprimarycare.com) is open for imaging monday - friday, 9am - 5pm.

The MRI scanner is the Siemens Magnetom Espree wide bore, 1.5 Tesla system.
The length of the tunnel is 125 cm (approximately four feet) and the diameter of the bore (the hole of the "doughnut") is 70 cm (nearly 2.3 feet).
This means the hole in the tunnel is wider than normal, whilst the length of the tunnel is shorter than normal, which means that for 60% of examinations, both head & feet of the patient can be out of the scanner at the same time.

Vista also has a Toshiba Aquilion One CT Scanner, which is the first dynamic volume CT system in the world and indeed the only one of its kind in Ireland or the UK.
The Aquilion ONE scans an entire organ, up to 16 cm of anatomy, in a single pass and can produce a 4D video that shows an organ/joint’s structure, movement and blood flow.
The 4D aspect means we can scan joints of the body in "real time" - any mobility issues can be recorded as and when you feel them.

Ultrasound & X-ray are both present within the department, both with full capabilities to examine paediatric patients & offer a full range of musculoskeletal work.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are here and we are open! Feel free to pop in or call us.

rebel girl 15

there is one in the mercy hospital in Cork.

Nutie

I've contacted the Mercy Hospital in Cork and unfortunately they do not have an open MRI Scanner. The only one available in the 32 counties is in Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast.
Vista Primary Care in Naas do have a larger scanner as you can read about in the above message. Merlin Park Hospital in Galway are also after purchasing a larger MRI Scanner like the one in Vista Primary Care in Naas. Hope this helps......

russellie

Hi all
I am in the same situation, desperately need a scan for torn / severed tendons in shoulder.
After heart op/ stents's I have major claustrophobia problems. on two occasions I have spent about 7 minutes (the longest) before going crazy.
I am in extreem pain with torn tendons and the shoulder joint popping out. Any help ?advice welcome
Russ
age 75