July 3, 1977, was the first time an MRI examination was done on a human being. It took about 5 hours.

Now, 30 years later, that machine is in the Smithsonian Institution and MRIs provide unparalleled views inside the human body in seconds.

Just exactly what is this and MRI and how does it work?

The MRI machine is a giant cube which houses a magnet with a horizontal tube. The MRI uses radio and magnetic waves to temporarily alter the body's magnetic field and produce images of the body's internal structures.

With a MRI, the patient stays in one position while the machine captures images from different directions using the small movable magnets inside the larger magnet.

The level of detail seen with a MRI is extraordinary and makes it the method of choice for diagnosing many types of injuries and conditions.

Some of the instances in which MRI is valuable include checking for multiple sclerosis; tumors of the brain; infections in the brain, spine, or joints; strokes in their earliest stages, torn ligaments; shoulder injuries; masses in the soft tissues of the body; bone tumors and discs in the spine.

MRI images are transferred to a computer system for a radiologist to read the imaging reports. The radiologist prepares a report for the referring physician.

It is not a bad idea to request a copy of the report for yourself so that you may keep a record of your own health history.

The MRI uses a strong magnet so any ferrous metal is drawn to it. Patients who may have metallic fragments in the eye are at risk because moving these fragments could cause serious eye damage. Eyes do not form scar tissue like the rest of your body, and a fragment of metal in an eye for years is just as dangerous today as it was in the past.

Patients who are considered high risk, including patients who have pacemakers or other metallic implants, may not be eligible for an MRI.

There are several fears associated with an MRI exam. Claustrophobic patients and patients who are overweight had a hard time with the MRI procedure because of the small opening and long tube.

Other patients have had difficulty lying still for long. Noise has been upsetting to some, while the expense of the exam is a deterrent to others.

Some patients have felt their only option was an open MRI but, although this system has improved, a closed tube system continues to provide superior images to that of an open MRI. Now closed MRI systems are becoming a more relaxed and patient friendly experience.

ACMH Hospital has two MRI exam sites. By June the hospital location will have a new MRI machine, with a tube that is larger in diameter and shorter in length. It will allow for about 60 percent of all MRI procedures to be done with the patient's head and feet outside of the bore.

The new exam table will accommodate up to 550 pounds to provide for a number of people who was previously unable to use a MRI.

The total exam time is cut from 45 to 30 minutes and although there will still be noise, ear plugs and music are provided.

For information regarding MRI services at ACMH Hospital, please call 724-543-8131.