Advantages of MRI Scanners
As it has been mentioned throughout the website, Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanners are a very essential part of the biological and medical fields. Since it was invented by Dr. Damadian, this evolutionary machine has saved many lives. There are many advantages of a MRI scan and it is because of these advantages that this machine continues to have various significant impacts in the world of biology.
One of the major advantages of MRI is that unlike certain imaging and screening methods, a MRI scan allows scientists and doctors to study and observe the internal features of a human’s body in the most non-invasive way possible. A MRI machine does not harm or risk the body in anyway while the scan is being performed, whereas other technologies, such as the CT (Computerized Tomography) scanners use powerful radiations that can actually increase the risk of cancer in patients, instead of curing them. This non-invasive machine simply requires the patients to lie still on the patient table, while the scanner does the imaging and everything else on its own.
One of the major advantages of MRI is that unlike certain imaging and screening methods, a MRI scan allows scientists and doctors to study and observe the internal features of a human’s body in the most non-invasive way possible. A MRI machine does not harm or risk the body in anyway while the scan is being performed, whereas other technologies, such as the CT (Computerized Tomography) scanners use powerful radiations that can actually increase the risk of cancer in patients, instead of curing them. This non-invasive machine simply requires the patients to lie still on the patient table, while the scanner does the imaging and everything else on its own.
Another advantage of the MRI scanners is that there have been no known biological hazards or side effects to humans due to this machine thus far. After many years of usage and thousands of patients having been exposed to the scanner’s magnetic fields of the huge strength as is used in the MRI technology, no patients have ever been cited of falling ill or getting other serious illnesses along with their original problem. Once a person comes out of the scanner, the atoms that were mixed and moved around in their body, while they were inside the machine, also return to their original state and as a result, leaving absolutely no impact or trace of the scanner, whatsoever on the patient’s body.
In addition, a MRI scanner can give a variety of image types and angles of a single area on the body without the patients having to move around inside the scanner. The reason for this is that MRI scanners can image in almost any plane. As mentioned already, there are 3 planes in which the machine takes images- axial plane, sagitall plane, and coronal plane. This gives this particular technology advantage over other devices, like the CT scanner, which are limited to only the single axial plane.
Also, a MRI scanner can produce very high quality images that are clear and easy to read. The MRI scanner uses more than 250 shades of gray to differentiate various parts of a tissue. This makes it easier for doctors to study the scans and quickly depict varying tissues and identify the problem. This can result in saving more lives, more quickly as the faster the doctor is able to figure out the problem in the patient, the faster they will be able to diagnose is, increasing the chances of the patient’s survival.
Disadvantages of MRI Scanners
However, like all other things, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner also has some negative sides to it that, from time to time, require both patients and doctors alike to be fairly cautious, as well as make it very difficult to perform the scanning.
One of the disadvantages of a MRI scanner is that the machine is extremely expensive. Since, the images achieved from an MRI scan are of such high quality and since, the technology makes it easier for doctors and scientists to identify the problem much faster than other such devices, MRI scanners can cost hospitals and private clinics a lot of money to purchase. This ends up affecting the cost of an MRI examination, which at times cannot be afforded by the general public.
One of the disadvantages of a MRI scanner is that the machine is extremely expensive. Since, the images achieved from an MRI scan are of such high quality and since, the technology makes it easier for doctors and scientists to identify the problem much faster than other such devices, MRI scanners can cost hospitals and private clinics a lot of money to purchase. This ends up affecting the cost of an MRI examination, which at times cannot be afforded by the general public.
The first MRI scanner that Dr. Damadian built required the patient to be in the machine for around 5 hours and even today, the newer machines also require patients to be in the machine for a long period of time. Furthermore, the patients are required to be absolutely motionless, as even the slightest bit of movement can result in the entire image getting distorted. To make it worse, once an image gets distorted, it cannot be fixed and so, the scanning process has to be started all over again, with the patient having to be in the machine for another long period of time.
Also, although the MRI machines don’t pose any biological threat on their own, if caution isn’t taken, in order to handle the machine and control the atmosphere around it, this device can become life threatening to everyone near it, particularly the patient. It has been seen that the strong magnetic force of the MRI machine can actually erase the magnetic encoding in objects, such as credit cards, which can cause many patients and their relatives to lose a lot of essential data. In addition, the magnetic force of this device can also suck in various metallic objects, both small and heavy, that can go into the machine and due to the extremely high force of the magnet, end up killing the patient inside. In 2001, an incident was recorded, where an oxygen tank got pulled into a MRI machine while a young boy was going through his examination and as the tank circled with great force inside the machine, it unfortunately took the life of the poor child.
Also, although the MRI machines don’t pose any biological threat on their own, if caution isn’t taken, in order to handle the machine and control the atmosphere around it, this device can become life threatening to everyone near it, particularly the patient. It has been seen that the strong magnetic force of the MRI machine can actually erase the magnetic encoding in objects, such as credit cards, which can cause many patients and their relatives to lose a lot of essential data. In addition, the magnetic force of this device can also suck in various metallic objects, both small and heavy, that can go into the machine and due to the extremely high force of the magnet, end up killing the patient inside. In 2001, an incident was recorded, where an oxygen tank got pulled into a MRI machine while a young boy was going through his examination and as the tank circled with great force inside the machine, it unfortunately took the life of the poor child.