When injuries, illnesses, and chronic health issues leave you in pain or discomfort and suffering from a variety of symptoms, there are new and advanced tools today that can be used to help diagnose and treat your condition. At Intermountain Medical Imaging (IMI), we ushered in a new era in state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and services when we opened our first office in downtown Boise in 1999. Two decades later, we have expanded our practice to serve residents throughout the Treasure Valley area while also expanding the tools and procedures we use to provide you with the highest level of quality care.
One of the latest in medical innovations that we are proud to be able to offer our patients is our large-bore magnetic resonance imaging machines. By making this procedure more efficient and more comfortable for our patients, the large-bore MRI can lead to an earlier diagnosis, increased treatment options, and an overall better outcome for the patient involved.
What Is a Large-Bore MRI?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven to be a safe, highly effective, and efficient way to anatomically scan various parts of the body, providing clear, detailed images that allow doctors to treat a variety of injuries, illnesses, and other medical conditions. Traditional MRIs have proven extremely useful in examining areas of the body such as the brain, spinal cord, body organs, joints, and blood vessels. However, one of the drawbacks with using MRI has been that the narrow sides and the opening of the machine cannot easily accommodate larger patients. In addition to size limitations, the narrow opening can leave some patients feeling uncomfortable and claustrophobic. This can be especially difficult for those patients who are already in pain and suffering with limited mobility issues.
If you have ever had an MRI, you know that the machine is shaped somewhat like a donut. The open space in the middle is referred to as the ‘bore,’ while the outer area (donut) surrounding it is a cylindrical magnet used to obtain and transmit images during the examination. Traditionally, most imaging centers have relied on a standard MRI bore size that is roughly 60 centimeters in diameter, which is just under two feet.
At Intermountain Medical Imaging (IMI), we know that patient comfort and accessibility are key in getting usable, detailed, MRI test results. We rely on large-bore MRI machines, such as the Philips Ingenia 3T MRI, which has an opening of 70 centimeters. This larger opening allows us to better accommodate a variety of patients and take diagnostic testing to a whole new level.
The Benefits of Large-Bore MRI
Imaging Technology News hails large-bore MRI machines for broadening the number of patients who can now be tested and treated for conditions that may have previously gone undetected and untreated. By providing a larger opening, the benefits of large-bore MRI include the following:
- Better accommodates larger patients and those with a wide shoulder width;
- Alleviates some of the fear of patients who are claustrophobic, making them more likely to submit to testing;
- Eliminates that tight, boxed-in feeling, making patients more comfortable and less likely to move or shift during the procedure, allowing for clearer imaging;
- Reduces the amount of noise interference patients are likely to hear through the machine, making it easier for imaging technicians to provide detailed instructions during testing.
- Better accommodations for patients mean fewer errors or retakes, which can cut the actual time that the MRI procedure takes by as much as half.
The added benefits of large-bore MRI allow for a more accurate diagnosis of potentially serious and life-impacting medical conditions. This includes problems with the neurological system, such as those suffering brain and spinal cord injuries, seizures, and dementia. It also helps obtain better imaging, which can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders such as soft tissue injuries or broken bones and damage to body organs and systems caused by injuries and diseases.
Let Intermountain Medical Imaging Help You
At Intermountain Medical Imaging, we rely on the latest, cutting edge technology, such as large-bore MRI, to better uncover, diagnose, and treat your most troubling and potentially serious medical conditions. The benefits of large-bore MRI translate into better accessibility, an improved patient experience, clearer images and analysis, and overall better patient outcomes. To discuss whether this type of imaging may be right in your particular case, reach out and contact IMI to request an appointment at one of our four locations in Boise and throughout Treasure Valley today.
