Open MRI machine

whomitconcerns

Rather than bumping an old thread.

Having confirmed that there is an Open MRI scanner (not open bore) in Belfast (Musgrave).

Does anyone know if one has become available in the republic? Euromedic used to have one in Dublin but its closed now

bbam

I've used the SSC in Santry a few times, I think it's open, or maybe I've just got used to it.

whomitconcerns

thanks but i think you'd remember...its completely open, no tube at all. just lying on a table

bbam

whomitconcerns wrote: »

thanks but i think you'd remember...its completely open, no tube at all. just lying on a table

Oh..
sorry..

whomitconcerns

no problem, appreciate the response anyway..its for the mother..and i have been educated profusely the diff between open bore (just a bigger tube) and open ....

drzhivago

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Rather than bumping an old thread.

Having confirmed that there is an Open MRI scanner (not open bore) in Belfast (Musgrave).

Does anyone know if one has become available in the republic? Euromedic used to have one in Dublin but its closed now

VISTA in NAas, had to send a 29stone patient there a few years ago

encore1

was the one you mentioned in Dublin in Charlemont clinic? I had one there few years ago.

i found out recently that you can have someone in the room with you (literally holding your hand/ankles!) for the closed ones...as in a family member or friend. makes a huge difference (in my opinion)

whomitconcerns

drzhivago wrote: »

VISTA in NAas, had to send a 29stone patient there a few years ago

vista has an open bore machine rather than an open machine. Thanks anyway, it would have been perfect.

Its for the mother and the hand holding doesnt work for her she says..its either this or she will not do an MRI at all, but yes it was in Charlemont. Its still on their website and facebook page helpfully with pictures, however gone since dec 2012

encore1

i know the feeling... i went into an mri once and came out 10 seconds later black and blue from the panic attack i took inside it...i still think i may have have damaged the fekkin thing from all the kicking and flailing around i did in it!!

would she consider asking her gp for a relaxant? i got one for the last scan i had, nothing major, just enough to take the edge off and calm me down enough to keep my eyes shut for the whole thing and it really worked. i was still nervous but was able to (just about) manage it

SpaceTime

There was an open MRI machine in the South Infirmary in Cork but for some reason it was replaced with a 1.5 Tesla GE Scanner in 2007.

whomitconcerns

open MRI scanner is much weaker than normal ones. So they aren't really preferable in most cases. But my mother will not take anything or try anything else..so looks like Belfast at this stage

SpaceTime

Found an open bore one in Cork if that's any use to you?
They're a lot less claustrophobic than a regular machine but they're also more effective than the totally open magnet ones.

They're more like a CT scanner in shape - wider opening and they're open at the far end. So it's more like a giant donut than a tunnel if that makes sense.

http://euromedic.ie/services/mri-scan.aspx

There's on in Cork.

It's a 3T system too so should actually provide excellent resolution.

Seems they may have one in Northwood in Dublin too.

Maybe ring Euromedic and ask if they could meet your mother and show her the machine?
They're not as scary as people think they are if they know what they're about and have had a chance to actually look at it maybe even roll into it for 2 mins without being scanned and see what they think etc.

There's really a huge difference between the open bore and regular machines in terms of comfort though.

The main reason the fully open ones are disappearing seems to be the development of open bore and the fact that most patients are happy enough with that system and also because there was a big difference in scanning capability of the fully open machines vs a 3T open bore.

The machine would be similar to : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWZtO58mrl8

Those machines are also a *lot* quieter than previous generations.

whomitconcerns

she knows the open bore...and is still a big no, she says cant do it.

She wasnt going to get one at all (against best advice) till I mentioned the open machines.