BRMC's New MRI ProvidingGreater Image Quality

Area physicians looking to diagnose patients’ ailments or abnormalities can now obtain the best magnetic resonance images (MRIs) available with today’s advanced technology at Bradford Regional Medical Center.

Tim Brown, Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC) administrative director of Imaging and Cardiovascular Services, said Tuesday at the Bradford Hospital Foundation’s Community Relations Committee meeting that the hospital’s $1.7 million High-Field Open-Bore MAGNETOM Espree MRI provides the most detailed diagnostic images available in the healthcare industry.

BRMC just started using its High-Field Open-Bore MAGNETOM Espree MRI unit earlier this week. It also offers far more room for larger patients and eliminates claustrophobic concerns while still providing the best high-field quality diagnostic images, he said. Another advantage this high-field MRI has over traditional open MRIs is that its requires far less time for patients to undergo exams.

“Our high-field MRI has a stronger magnet and better images than traditional open MRIs,” said Mr. Brown. “With the MAGNETOM Espree, we can do any diagnostic exams physicians need for their patients.” The MRI unit operates by creating a magnetic field, sending radio waves through the body and then measuring the response. This creates an image or picture of the inside of the body that is far clearer than can be
obtained with most other methods, he said “This new MRI is going to greatly increase our efficiency and patient convenience,” he added.

The MAGNETOM Espree has 16 channels, 12 more than the previous unit BRMC had since 2004. This allows several more times data to be processed in half the period while providing extremely high resolution, Mr. Brown said. BRMC will have the full capability to perform cardiac, neurological, cancer and breast MRIs, he noted. Previously, patients needing breast MRIs were referred outside the area.

In comparison, a traditional open MRI is less powerful, takes twice as long to perform an exam, has limited functionality and cannot service all patients, Mr. Brown said. The patient-friendly design of MAGNETOM Espree will make it easier for
large patients and those with claustrophobia to have a MRI exam performed which produces higher quality images than those from a traditional open MRI, he explained.
Through its high-field, open design, the MAGNETOM Espree allows upwards of 75 percent of patients to have their head outside the unit, thus eliminating claustrophobic concerns.

The new MRI’s design features a bore opening of 2.3 feet in diameter. This provides one foot of free space between a patient and the magnet that is far quieter as well, he said. The MAGNETOM Espree also features the shortest magnet available. Approximately four feet long, the magnet allows patients to usually have their head and feet outside the unit. “Because of the unit’s magnet strength, we can scan in any
direction. This allows us to also accommodate all sizes of patients,” he said. “The MAGNETOM offers a total imaging matrix and very uniform images which will greatly help physicians obtain the most accurate diagnosis.”

Along with its technical advances, the MAGNETOM Espree will enable BRMC to further concentrate on women’s health. Starting in early June, “We’ll start performing breast MRIs, which are 25 to 30 percent more accurate than traditional mammograms,” Mr. Brown said. Additionally, “These breast MRIs will be covered by most insurances.”
Another exam soon on the horizon at BRMC will be three-dimensional imaging. This type of imaging can be very helpful when examining pregnant women, he said.

The arrival of the 6-ton MAGNETOM Espree from Siemens Medical Solutions USA was in mid-March but it’s already being used. Although Siemens officials indicated it typically takes 12 weeks to completely install the MRI unit, it took far less time at BRMC. Mr. Brown said his department and BRMC’s Plant Services worked cooperatively with Siemens to drastically reduce the MRI’s installation time. “We were able to install it in just three weeks.” During the installation period, BRMC still maintained MRI capability with a mobile unit located in the back parking lot.

So the community and BRMC staff can become more familiar with the new MRI, an open house will be held later this month with additional details to be announced shortly.
For more information about the new MRI or for appointments, contactBRMC’s Imaging Services Department at 362-8200.

Photo of Tim Brown courtesy of BRMC

Clock HERE to hear Brown talk about the MRI on the LiveLine.