When a doctor prescribes an MRI, two basic types are typically used. In this YouTube video, viewers learn the difference between closed and open MRIs. This medical test provides a picture of the body’s internal organs.
During an MRI, the magnets in the scanner use radio waves to produce a printed image of the client’s internal organs. This action occurs by identifying and stimulating the water molecules of the examined organs.
Each hydrogen atom has only one proton. When the magnet stimulates the water molecules, all the protons line up and use the magnetic force to send an image from one proton to another.
A traditional MRI looks like a tunnel. A client lies on their back on the base of the device, and the base moves the client into the tunnel portion. According to the video, 80% of MRIs are still done with a closed MRI scan. Some clients feel too confined by the tunnel portion of the closed MRI.
An open MRI scanner locates its scanning components on top of the device. This version of MRIs can be advantageous for people who are obese, and for those who feel claustrophobic in a closed MRI. The video also stated some radiologists prefer closed MRIs because it can be difficult to read printouts of open MRIs.
