ExpertMRI Blog

Lumina 3T MRI: A Quantum Leap in MRI Technology

Diagnostic imaging is a dynamic field… as technology evolves, new and more advanced equipment becomes available. When we at ExpertMRI are convinced that the new technology will offer an improvement in imaging capabilities—as well as in patient care—we make the investment.

Recently, we installed the new Siemens MAGNETOM Lumina 3T MRI at our Culver City location. “3T” refers to the tesla strength of the magnet within the MRI system, which is twice as powerful as the 1.5T MRI scanners used at most imaging centers. While 3T MRI systems are becoming more and more common across California, there is nothing common about the Lumina 3T. In fact, ExpertMRI is the only outpatient center in the state to offer testing with this advanced system.

What makes this new MRI so revolutionary? To start, the quality of the images is superior to that of other MRI systems. The Lumina 3T system has what is called an ultra high-density array—a special coil that enables higher spatial and temporal resolution for noticeably better image quality. It can better visualize smaller patient anatomy, which can improve the quality of a diagnosis for certain conditions.

Next, most scans on the Lumina 3T can be completed in less than 15 minutes. Traditional MRI scanners are notorious for requiring long examinations (up to an hour in some cases). A shorter scan time means greater comfort, especially for patients who may be in severe pain at the time of their scan.

Finally, this 3T MRI scanner has a 70 cm, wide bore opening. That is 30% larger than a typical MRI and is especially beneficial to patients who become anxious or claustrophobic when having an MRI examination. The larger opening can also accommodate larger patients. The Lumina 3T can easily handle patients up to 500 lbs.

In short, improved image quality and better patient comfort are the primary reasons why we’re offering the new Lumina 3T MRI. It also aligns with our philosophy of having the most complete and diverse assortment of MRI options of any outpatient imaging center network in California. In case you’re wondering “how much does a 3T MRI cost?” The good news is that it costs no more than a 1.5T MRI, and with ExpertMRI, you’ll always find the most competitive MRI prices in California.

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The inspiration behind the safest and most versatile medical imaging test

Dolphins are known as “biosonar” animals. They, along with whales, bats, shrews, and certain birds are able to send ultrasonic sound waves (known as “pings”) into their environment. These sound waves, with a frequency higher than what humans are capable of hearing, bounce off objects and return to them, helping these animals visualize their surroundings. Their brains are capable of determining the actual shape of the things they detect, which allows them to navigate or hunt for prey.

This is the same principle behind medical ultrasound imaging. In fact, the technologists who perform ultrasound imaging are known as sonographers.

Ultrasound was first used in medicine during the Second World War. Austrian physician Karl Theodore Dussik first used sound waves in 1942 to image the brain in an attempt to detect brain tumors. He provided the first published work on medical ultrasonics. Over the next several decades, ultrasound technology was continually refined and improved. In 1958, Dr. Ian Donald incorporated ultrasound into the OB/GYN field of medicine. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, ultrasound was first used to measure the sound waves that are reflected from moving objects, such as blood through the human body. This became known as the “Doppler effect” and is widely used today in vascular ultrasound imaging.

In the 1980s, 3D ultrasound was invented, followed by 4D ultrasound in the 1990s. These innovations used sophisticated computers to reconstruct ultrasound images into a clear picture (3D) or a video (4D), and gave expecting parents a first clear look at their unborn child.

Today, ultrasound is the second-most-used diagnostic imaging technology. Because it emits no ionizing radiation it is very safe, which is why it is so often used in children and pregnant women. It is used to evaluate every organ system in the human body, giving doctors the ability to achieve an accurate diagnosis. And it is used during surgery and interventional procedures to precisely guide treatment in real time.

Ultrasound imaging is available at select ExpertMRI locations.

Cats and Beatles: The amazing history of CT scanning

CT—also known as a ‘Cat Scan’—stands for computed tomography. It is a highly useful innovation to see inside the body non-invasively. Most people are not aware that this lifesaving imaging technology actually has its roots in rock and roll.

In the 1960s, it became apparent to doctors that a more precise and detailed imaging technology was needed. Until then, X-rays were the primary way to see inside the body. While X-rays are fine for diagnosing certain health conditions, it was woefully inadequate when it came to seeing detail within the body’s internal organs, brain and soft tissue structures like cartilage.

Electric and Music Industries (EMI) is the company that owned the Abbey Road Studies in the 1960s and 1970s. The incredible popularity of the Beatles during that time produced record profits for the company, which they were able to reinvest to fund various R&D projects. In 1972—the year The Essential Beatles album was released—British engineer Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories, working with physicist Dr. Allan Cormack, developed the first commercially available CT scanner from this funding. For their significant achievement, both were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1979.

The principle of CT scanning was as ingenious as it was elegant. Hounsfield, a high school dropout, said the idea came to him while he was on vacation. He was thinking about a way to reconstruct a 3D image of a box. He started re-imagining the box as a series of “slices” instead of the whole box.

At EMI, Hounsfield and Cormack refined the concept of using multiple X-rays to generate individual “slices” of human anatomy, which could then be reconstructed by a computer in three dimensions. While conventional X-ray uses a fixed tube that sends the X-rays in a single direction, this new approach would require sending focused X-rays from multiple angles around the body. The inventors accomplished this by fixing an X-ray camera to a rotating disc that could pass around the patient’s body, focused at a detector that is also rotating around the patient. That accounts for the scanner’s signature “donut” shape that remains today.

During a CT scan, the rotating camera captures hundreds of digital X-ray images forming the anatomical “slices” that a radiologist views on a special computer. The computer allows the radiologist to view the individual slices, or seamlessly “move” their view through the area imaged with 3D reconstruction, to look for abnormalities and form a diagnosis.

Over time, CT images have improved, as have 3D reconstruction capabilities. Modern CT scanners are faster, require the patient to remain in the scanner for only a short period of time and expose patients to less radiation. Today, CT images are used to diagnose brain tumors, problems with the bones, joints and muscles, heart disease and coronary blockages, internal bleeding, and cancer within nearly every organ system in the body. The 3-dimensional reconstruction capabilities of CT assists surgeons in pre-surgical planning. It is also used to guide biopsies and various forms of disease treatment from inside the body.

With a name like ExpertMRI, it isn’t obvious that we use CT technology… but we do. We operate some of the most advanced CT scanners available today at several of our facilities. They are an excellent complement to technologies like MRI and ultrasound and have their place in diagnosing injuries to the brain and musculoskeletal system.

Understanding MRIs: The 3 Different Machines & Their Uses

If you have recently been referred for an MRI, chances are your referring provider is needing to get a detailed image or scan of soft tissues, such as ligaments, cartilage, or muscles. However, did you know that there are many different types of MRI machines, all with different uses and diagnostic strengths? At ExperMRI we offer three different types of MRI machines; Front Open MRI, 1.5T High-Field Strength MRI, and 3T High-Field Strength MRI.

What is an MRI?

MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is a diagnostic tool used by radiologists to create clear pictures of the inside of your body. MRIs generate images that help doctors to diagnose injuries or other abnormalities within the body.

How does an MRI work?

An MRI scan works by using powerful magnets and a computer to create detailed images of internal body structures. Since your body is made up of over 80% water, those components of your body can be magnetic. Once put in a magnetic field, the water atoms of your body align and the polarity of your body is disrupted. In short, MRIs measure the amount of fluid that is in your body, which the computer uses to create a black-and-white image. Due to the amount of detail that MRIs can show, our experts can see even the smallest of abnormalities.

How long does an MRI take?

MRIs in a traditional, closed-bore machine can last between 15-90 minutes depending on the type of scanner used, and the type of test your doctor orders.

What is a Front-Open MRI?

A Front-Open MRI, unlike a traditional MRI, allows you to lay on a bed that is more open, and not within a tube. Front-open MRIs are great alternatives for those who suffer from claustrophobia as they are not as enclosed. However, these types of MRIs also have different diagnostic uses than traditional MRI machines.

What are Front-Open MRIs used for?

Front-open MRIs are best used for patients who need to have a certain position to get a scan. The most common uses for these types of MRIs are to detect things like:

Head or brain damage
Heart issues or defects
Chest exams
Spinal exams, including scoliosis testing
Abdominal exams
Pelvic exams
Issues with the joints

There are many different uses for front-open MRIs, and often these machines provide more comfort than the alternative machines.

Benefits of Front-Open MRIs

There are many great benefits to front-open MRIs, especially when it comes to younger patients, patients with mobility issues, and patients that suffer from MRI anxiety and claustrophobia. Front-open MRIs alleviate anxiety in patients with claustrophobia due to the machine being more open than traditional closed-bore MRI machines.

These machines are also less noisy than their counterparts, easing the stress of anxious patients. And, unlike other machines, younger kids can be accompanied by a parent, and patients with mobility issues are more comfortable in front-open MRI machines as they do not have to lie flat on their backs.

1.5T High-Field Strength MRI

Often referred to as traditional MRI, today’s High-Field Strength MRIs offer a shorter bore that is slightly more open than earlier MRI equipment. The higher-strength magnet enables more detailed pictures. These types of machines are used to see smaller abnormalities within the body.

What are the benefits of higher field strength MRI?

Aside from the openness of the machine itself, patients often spend less time in the machine when using high-field strength MRI. Another benefit is that these machines offer even clearer images and can help see smaller parts of the body.

For more information on if a higher field strength MRI is right for your imaging needs, call us at (877) 674-8888.

3T High-Field Strength MRI

3T MRI machines are newer in the industry and have a stronger magnet than most traditional MRI machines, making it easier to get clearer images of the soft tissue in the body.

What is the difference between an MRI and a 3T MRI?

The largest difference between the 3T MRI and other traditional MRI machines is the strength of the magnet that the machine has. This machine is typically 3x stronger than closed-bore MRI machines, and up to 10x stronger than most open-MRI machines.

Benefits of 3T MRI Machines

Due to the magnet’s strength, time in the machine is on average lower as well, with most patients spending about 15-20 minutes inside as opposed to the traditional 15-90 minutes for other MRI scans. Other benefits of the 3T MRI are

The imaging speeds of these machines are so fast, they can capture a beating heart
Very small structures in the brain are visible at very high resolution to fully diagnose the extent of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
These machines are able to diagnose orthopedic and neurological injuries that can be missed on traditional MRI
The larger, 70 mm bore can accommodate patients up to 500 pounds
Incredibly safe and highly accurate in the diagnosis of pediatric scoliosis

Interested in learning more? Contact us today at (877) 674-8888 or schedule your appointment online.

Open MRI Advantages

An open MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a type of medical imaging technology that uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses, and a computer to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. Unlike traditional closed MRIs, which have a narrow, enclosed space for the patient to lie in, open MRIs have a larger opening and are less confining. This design allows for better patient comfort and reduced feelings of claustrophobia or anxiety. Open MRIs are used to diagnose and monitor a wide range of medical conditions, including injuries, diseases, and tumors. They can also be used to guide surgical procedures and to monitor the progress of treatment.

Reduced claustrophobia and anxiety: The larger opening in an open MRI can help to reduce feelings of claustrophobia or anxiety for patients who have trouble with enclosed spaces.
Better for larger patients: Open MRIs are often better for patients who are overweight or have larger body types, as the larger opening allows for more comfortable positioning during the scan.
Quieter: Open MRIs tend to be quieter than closed MRIs, which can also help to reduce anxiety for patients.
Wider range of imaging options: Open MRIs can also provide a wider range of imaging options, such as 3D imaging, which can be beneficial for certain types of diagnostic procedures.
Less restrictive: Open MRIs are less restrictive, providing more room for patients to move, this can make it easier for patients to hold still during the scan which results in clearer images.

Why Choose Expert MRI for MRI Services

ExpertMRI is a leading provider of MRI services, offering a wide range of imaging options for patients and healthcare providers.

One of the main reasons to choose ExpertMRI for your MRI needs is the quality of our imaging. Our state-of-the-art equipment and experienced technologists ensure that every scan is performed with the highest level of accuracy and detail. This allows for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, which can ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients.

In addition to the quality of our imaging, ExpertMRI also offers a convenient and comfortable patient experience. Our facilities are designed with patient comfort in mind, and we offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate busy schedules. We also provide patient education and support to help ensure that patients understand the process and feel comfortable throughout the examination.

Another key advantage of choosing ExpertMRI is our team of experienced radiologists. Our radiologists are all board-certified and have extensive experience interpreting MRI images. They work closely with referring physicians to provide timely and accurate results, and are available to discuss findings and answer any questions.

ExpertMRI also offers a wide range of MRI services, including neuroimaging, musculoskeletal imaging, and body imaging. This allows us to meet the diverse needs of our patients and referring physicians.

In summary, ExpertMRI is a top choice for MRI services due to the quality of our imaging, patient-centered approach, and experienced team of radiologists. We are committed to providing the best possible care to our patients and strive to make the MRI experience as comfortable and convenient as possible.

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