|Walk-In MRI - Science Insider Reported April 2009 HOW MOST MRIs
WORK: Magnetic resonance imaging uses radio frequency waves and
a strong magnetic field instead of X-rays to provide clear and
detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. These radio
waves are directed at protons in hydrogen atoms -- one of the
most abundant atoms in the human body, because of the body's
high water content. The waves "excite" the protons, and when
they "relax," they emit strong radio signals. A computer can
turn those signals into a high-contrast image showing
differences in the water content and distribution in various
bodily tissues. HOW THIS MRI IS DIFFERENT: Most MRI machines
require the patient to lie horizontally during the scan, but the
machine developed by these researchers will work if the patient
is standing upright. Traditional MRIs produce a strong magnetic
field to detect the weak magnetic field inside the body. With
this MRI, the patient first inhales magnetized helium, which
boosts their body’s magnetic fiel