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Nationwide MRI Scanning

Curian Medical delivers a nationwide diagnostic imaging service that includes MRI scanning.  We currently have access to over 220 venues throughout Great Britain that we can utilise for this procedure.  We work predominantly within the medico-legal sector and as a result we currently work with insurers, personal injury solicitors, medical agencies and case management organisations.

So what is MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and is a technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of inside the body.  The MRI scan is a painless, non-invasive procedure that looks at internal organs, blood vessels, joints, muscles, inflamed areas and tumours without the need for x-rays.

How does an MRI scan work?

Your body contains millions of hydrogen atoms. When in an MRI scanner a strong magnetic field aligns particles called protons which are within the hydrogen atoms. All the protons line up in parallel to the magnetic field, like tiny magnets.

Short bursts of radio waves are sent from the scanner into your body. The radio waves knock the protons from their position.  When the burst of radio waves stops, the protons realign back into place. As they do so they emit radio signals. The protons in different tissues of the body realign at different speeds. Therefore, the signal emitted from different body tissues varies. These signals are detected by a receiving device in the scanner.

The receiving device transmits the signals to a computer. The computer creates a picture based on the radio signals emitted from the body.

What is involved during an MRI scan?

The MRI scanner is like a tunnel about 1.5 metres long, surrounded by a large circular magnet. You lie on a couch which then slides into the scanner. When each image is being taken you need to keep still for a few minutes, otherwise the scan image may be blurred.

The scan is painless and the whole procedure can take 15-40 minutes. Where you lie is quite enclosed and some people may find this very unsettling. If you have a fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia) you should discuss this with Curian Medical.  We have access to a number of venues throughout Great Britain in which we can offer an open MRI scan.

The radiographer sits in the control room next to the scanner and observes through the window. However, you can talk to them, usually via an intercom, and you will be observed at all times on a monitor.

The scanner is noisy so you will be given some headphones or earplugs to protect your ears from the noise.

What can an MRI scan be used for?

An MRI scan can be used to examine almost any part of the body, including the brain and spinal cord, bones, joints, breasts, heart and blood vessels, internal organs, such as the liver, womb or prostate gland.

The results of an MRI scan can be used to help diagnose conditions, plan treatments and assess how effective previous treatment has been.

What preparation do I need to do prior to an MRI scan?

Usually there is very little you need to do prior to your scan.  Due to the magnetic field patients are required to answer MRI safety screening questions prior to undergoing their MRI scan.  There are a number of implants that comprise a set of possible contraindications to MRI scanning.  Metal implants for example might heat or move during the procedure. The functioning of these implants may also be interrupted or permanently altered.  The make and model of certain implants will need to be checked against relevant databases to determine whether the patient can be scanned.

Patients are asked if they have any metallic foreign bodies.  The reason being that these might move or heat during scanning, resulting in a serious injury.  If it is identified that there is the possibility of a metallic foreign body in the eye, Curian Medical can co-ordinate and orbital x-ray prior to scanning to exclude this.  Your account handler will discuss this with you should an orbital x-ray be required.

Other questions that will be asked prior to the MRI scan include whether or not the patient has had surgery within the last 6 weeks and for female patients whether they are pregnant.

What can I expect after the scan?

There are no after effects from the scan. You can return to your normal activities as soon as the scan is over.  Curian Medical, via our Curative Team will ensure that the images and the Radiologist report are shared with the organisation that referred you at the earliest opportunity.

Curian Medical conduct quarterly clinical audits on the images and reports that we deliver to our customers to ensure that we continue to provide services to the highest quality, the results of which are shared and published.

Curian Medical offer a quality nationwide MRI scanning service within a timely and affordable manner.  If you would like to hear more about our nationwide MRI scanning service or discuss MRI in further detail then please do feel free to contact Amanda O’Neill on 07904 630054 or [email protected]

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