A mock MRI scanner that enables patients to experience what a scan is like -- complete with scanning noises -- has gone into use at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
The Centre for Advanced MRI at the university's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences installed the mock-up scanner to enable children who need an MRI scan for clinical or research purposes to get used to the noisy and sometimes claustrophobic MRI environment. The mock-up is designed to be a full-size replica of a 1.5-tesla scanner.
Staff at the center hope that the mock-up will reduce the need for anesthesia in children who are anxious and require MRI scans. With respect to research, the mock-up enables individuals being scanned to practice tasks that might be expected for research studies.
Image courtesy of the University of Auckland.Individuals going into the mock-up get an explanation of their procedure and then must lie still in the scanner while a CD of MRI sounds is played. The process takes about 30 minutes, according to the university. If patients are able to lie still in the scanner, then they are booked for a regular scan.
Siemens Healthineers gave the mock scanner to the university, while refurbishment of the facility was funded by Auckland UniServices, the commercial arm of the University of Auckland.
