During the late 1970's, the world of diagnostic imaging changed drastically due to the introduction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, also known as MRI. For over 30 years, they have grown to become one of the most significant imaging modalities found in the hospitals and clinics ("EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND FACULTY INFORMATION"). During its ancient days, these machines were referred to as NMRI machines or, “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging.” The term “nuclear” comes from the fact that the machine has the capability of imaging an atom's nucleus. Eventually, the term was dropped and replaced with just MRI, because “nuclear” did not sit well with the public view ("EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND FACULTY INFORMATION"). Many people interpreted the machine to produce an excess amount of radiation in comparison to the traditional X-ray machine. What many of them were unaware of, MRI does not disperse a single ounce of ionizing radiation making it one of the safest diagnostic imaging machine available to this date. MRI machines actually use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high quality images consisting of precise details that cannot be seen on CT (Computed Tomography) or X-ray. The MRI magnet is capable of fabricating large and stable magnetic fields making it the most important and biggest component of MRI. The magnet in an MRI machine is measured on a unit called Tesla. While regular magnets commonly use a unit called gauss (1 Tesla = 10,000 gauss). Compared to Earth's magnetic field (0.5 gauss), the magnet in MRI is about 0.5 to 3.0 tesla range meaning it is immensely strong. The powerful magnetic fields of the machine has the ability to pull on any iron-containing objects and may cause them to abruptly move with great for...
... middle of paper ...
...ate content and information are designed to promote a safe MRI environment.
In conclusion, with all the facts being said, working with MRI machines may seem very challenging and very scary. Without the proper handling and correct safety precautions taken, several risk factors may be presented to the technologist and patients. It is vital that an MRI technologist be highly trained and educated in order to alleviate possible danger to patients and other personnels. MRI machines are highly used all over the world in order to diagnose and treat a good majority of the population's illness and diseases. They are capable of producing immensely detailed images that are unmatched to any other imaging modality. Though it is important to remember, the bigger the machine, the greater the risks and responsibilities both the patient and the technologist will be presented with.
My interest in MRI started when I first read the book “MRI, The Basics” written by the author Ray Hashemi. By the time I successfully finished my MRI clinical placement in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, I knew for sure that MRI would be the field I would be choosing to take on. What attracts me most about MRI is how beautifully scientist could create a technology that can take advantage of the magnetic moments of human body for imaging it without any harms of ionizing radiation. Although there are drawbacks to MRI, combining it with other modalities would be a more effective approach to an accurate diagnosis.
In the radiology profession first you must write the patient’s file. This includes information about insurance, medical history, what the required x-ray is for and where it is going to be taken on the body. Writing in this way is similar to writing a small research paper. You must do research on the patients and there history and what insurance they have. Writing the report is important because the information must be accurate so the patient can be helped as much as possible. If the information about medical history is incorrect it can cause a huge problem for the patient. For example, if the patient is claustrophobic they would need to get an open room x-ray where the patient isn’t in an enclosed tube so they don’t have a panic attack and potentially injure themselves and others. It is very important to make sure the report has the correct area of where the x-ray needs to be taken. Having the wrong part of the body x-...
After graduating with my Bachelor’s degree, I continued to work as a staff MRI technologist. Even though I loved what I did and had a passion helping people, the lack of diversity within radiology and its limited room for growth bothered me. I decided to look into furthering my career and found an interest in Health Information Technology. Upon researching many different schools through the country offering an online graduate Health Information Technology program, the University of Michigan in Dearborn stood out to me. Medicine and technology have both always been a part of my life, and I am very happy and excited that the chance for it to play a new part has finally arrived. I’m motivated to learn how I can combine the science of information with clinical knowledge so I can help to better patient care and
The role of the radiologist is one that has undergone numerous changes over the years and continues to evolve a rapid pace. Radiologists specialize in the diagnoses of disease through obtaining and interpreting medical images. There are a number of different devices and procedures at the disposal of a radiologist to aid him or her in these diagnoses’. Some images are obtained by using x-ray or other radioactive substances, others through the use of sound waves and the body’s natural magnetism. Another sector of radiology focuses on the treatment of certain diseases using radiation (RSNA). Due to vast clinical work and correlated studies, the radiologist may additionally sub-specialize in various areas. Some of these sub-specialties include breast imaging, cardiovascular, Computed Tomography (CT), diagnostic radiology, emergency, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), musculoskeletal, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, pediatric radiology, radiobiology, and Ultrasound (Schenter). After spending a vast amount of time on research and going to internship at the hospital, I have come to realize that my passion in science has greatly intensified. Furthermore, both experiences helped to shape up my future goals more prominently than before, which is coupled with the fact that I have now established a profound interest in radiology, or rather nuclear medicine.
MRI is a procedure, in wide use since the 80s, to see the anatomy of the internal organs of the body. It is based on the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), first described in landmark papers over fifty years ago (Rabi et al. 1938; Rabi, Millman, and Kusch 1939; Purcell et al. 1945; Bloch, Hansen, and Packard 1946) (4 ). . The MRI is a valuable diagnostic and research tool with also practical applications for surgical planning and conquering diseases. This imaging procedure is painless and non-invasive although sometimes discomforting as the patient lies down in a body tube that surrounds them. For many years, closed MRI units have been the standard in helping physicians make a diagnosis. These closed MRI units featured a long tube that the patient would be placed inside during their procedure. This was often uncomfortable for many patients due to the "closed in" feeling and was especially stressful for patients who suffer from claustrophobia. The newest generation of MRI units is now open on all four sides which completely alleviates the "closed in" feeling, while still providing the physician with the most accurate information possible to aid in diagnosis (2).. A patient does not see or feel anything. A faint knocking sound may be heard as the machine processes information. Patients may choose to listen to music -- even having the option of bringing their own CDs to listen to. Most MRI procedures take less than an hour. MRI technology is based on three things: magnetism, radiofrequency and computers. The magnetic resonance machine, is a big and strong magnet. When the body is inside, every proton of the body is oriented in the same way (for instance, with the positive pole up). Water ...
Radiology is one of the few so-called “physical-science”-based fields of medicine, making it a challenging and rewarding application of an academic interest in science. It combines advanced knowledge of human physiology with principles of atomic physics and nuclear decay, electricity and magnetism, and both organic and inorg...
Radiology technology is a science of using radiation to produce images. There are many jobs you can perform in diagnostic imaging usually a radiologic technologist will oft...
I am Lee V. Hebert, Jr., and for the past twenty-three years, I have taught American History, American History Honors/Dual Enrollment and Contemporary Issues at Covington High School. It was my privilege to have Amanda Vicari in my American History Honors class during her junior year of high school. Amanda presented herself as a leader both in and out of class as evidenced by her active participation in many areas of our school. In class she was an active participant; one I could always count on for answers and or discussion and when appropriate, she would assist those students who did not fully understand the lessons presented.
One of the most recently new advances in radiology is the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI has been around for the past century. It was at first called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and then it changed to MRI once there was an available image. Walter Gerlach and Otto Stern were the first scientists to start experimenting with the magnetic imaging. Their very first experiment was looking at the magnetic moments of silver by using some type of x-ray beam. The scientists then discovered this was by realizing that the magnetic force in the equipment and in the object itself. In 1975, the first image was finally created using and MRI machine. The scientists used a Fourier Transformation machine to reconstruct images into 2D. The first images ever use diagnostically was in 1980. This is when hospitals began to use them. At first the images took hours to develop and were only used on the patients that needed it most. Even though MRI has been around for a long time, it has advanced and has been one of the best imaging modalities recently (Geva, 2006).
Getting an MRI is a non-invasive method used to look at images inside an object. MRI’s are mainly used to observe pathological or physiological developments of living tissues. The patient simply lies on his or her back and slides onto the bore- the tube running through the magnet. An MRI’s job is to find tissue and determine what it is, by using radio wave pulses of energy. The MRI creates 2-D or 3-D images of each point in the patient’s body. The MRI system can cause tissues in the body to take on different appearances, which is helpful to radiologists who read it. It can also show flowing blood to help show the arterial system.
Today's technology helps routine screening measures be extremely accurate compared to past years. A new MRI, for instance, diagnoses heart disease in patients as far ahead as 10 years before they will be at risk of suffering a heart attack. Medical professionals are trained better today on what to be on the lookout for with routine screening tests and procedures.
I am a patient and caring person who enjoy helping people. My ambition to become a Diagnostic Imaging technologist developed when I was working at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. During this time, I worked as a temporary support worker who helped patients to attend their scheduled medical examinations at the Imaging Department.
I am attending Baton Rouge General School of Radiologic Technology to pursue an Associates degree through Northwestern State University to become a licensed radiologic technologist. I chose this profession because I thoroughly enjoy helping others and making a difference in people’s lives. Radiologic technologists are expected to give efficient patient care while following the doctor’s order to proceed with the X-ray examination. Radiology is the most important role in healthcare because with out having X-rays, the surgeons could not see inside of the patient’s body to perform surgery. Doctors can not predict what is going on inside of a patient without having an X-ray. I am interested in this being my future career because
Three simple letters such as “MRI”, may leave one in question of what it’s about. But MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In other words, an elaborated scientific form of a x-ray. It derives from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR). NMR is enabling us to identify the structure of an organic molecule, but can also be applied to the imaging of the whole body organs, to what we know as an MRI. Spectroscopy is just a technique for analyzing the structure for a molecule based off how they absorb electromagnetic radiation. MRIs are one of the most powerful tools in medical diagnosis.
...eatment for pain, but in minor cases it may help some individuals recover faster (NCCIH.NIH). For further uses of magnets in the medical fields the NCCIH is researching the integrations of magnets in new contemporary applications to aid in pain relief.