Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a painless, non-invasive diagnostic procedure, which allows Radiologists to see detailed images of the internal structures of your body without using x-rays. This technology uses a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to scan your body.

MRI scans illustrate the difference between healthy and diseased tissue and can provide important information about your body. It can lead to early detection and better treatment of disease and has no known side effects. Consequently, your health care provider will be better able to determine the most appropriate treatment for you.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 60 million Americans are obese — a significant statistic considering that research has linked obesity to more than 15 serious health conditions.

Obesity is a growing healthcare epidemic in the United States, but it’s also causing a serious problem in medical imaging by interfering with a doctor’s ability to obtain accurate, informative diagnostic images.

Obese patients, who often require diagnostic imaging procedures to determine proper treatment, cannot fit through the restrictive opening of traditional MRI scanners. As a result, their physicians send them to “open” MRI scanners, which feature a wider opening, or bore, that can accommodate larger patients.

However, open MRI scanners sacrifice magnet strength to provide more space for patients. The more space open MRI scanners provide, the weaker the magnet becomes. The result is a serious dilemma that frustrates both doctors and patients. Although obese patients can fit into an open MRI scanner, the weaker magnet often produces images that are significantly less effective in assisting the physician’s diagnosis.