Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have an "OPEN" MRI Unit?Bio-Magnetic has "COMPLETELY OPEN MRI Units at both it's Madison Heights and Toledo locations. Our Madison Heights unit can accommodate patients up to 500 pounds, while our Toledo location can scan patients up to 550 pounds.
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Do you sedate for claustrophobia and pain management?
Our nurses provide both oral and inter-muscular (IM) sedation during procedures.
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Will my insurance pay for an MRI?
Bio-Magnetic participates with several insurance plans and most insurances will pay for an MRI or MRA examination.
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What are my options if I don't have insurance coverage or I am a Canadian citizen and don't want to wait months to have an MRI done?
Bio-Magnetic is committed to helping patients receive the health care that they need and will gladly work with each patient based on their particular circumstance.
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Do you provide complimentary transportation?
Complimentary transportation is provided for those patients that do not have the ability to provide their own transportation.
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Are MR scans safe?
MR scanning is a totally painless, safe examination, with no known side effects. The procedure produces detailed images of what is going on inside your body, without x-rays or catheters.
Using a large magnet, radio waves and a computer, it produces 2- or 3-dimensional images. These images will help your doctor diagnose a variety of conditions quickly and accurately, with great clarity. MR scans are performed to investigate certain suspected conditions of soft tissues of the brain and spinal cord, shoulders, knees and abdomen as well as other parts of the body.
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How are the images created?
Using a large magnet, radio waves and a computer, it produces 2 or 3 dimensional images to form picture images of your body's internal structures.
Your body is composed of small particles called atoms. Normally the protons inside the atoms spin randomly. When subjected to a powerful magnetic field, the protons line up uniformly, like many little compasses pointing in the same direction.
During an MR scan, radio waves are signaled into the magnetic field and tip the protons out of alignment. When the radio waves are turned off, the protons return to their aligned positions. They also convert energy from lo level to high level creating "resonance". A receiver measures he energy released and the time it takes the protons to return to their original position. These measurements provide important information about the area being studied.
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Can everyone have an MRI?
Patients with the following implants cannot be scanned and should not enter the MRI scanning area unless explicitly instructed to do so by a radiologist or technologist who is aware of the presence of any of the following:
- Internal (implanted)defibrillator or pacemaker
- Cochlear (ear) implant
- Some types of clips used on brain aneurysms
- Artificial heart valves
- Implanted drug infusion ports
- Implanted electronic device including a cardiac pacemaker
- Artificial limbs or metallic joint prostheses
- Implanted nerve stimulator's
- Metal pins, screws, plates or surgical staples
Patients who might have metal objects in certain parts of their bodies may also require an x-ray prior to an MRI. Dyes used in tattoos may contain iron and could heat up during an MRI, but this is rarely a problem. Tooth fillings and braces usually are not affected by the magnetic field, but they may distort images of the facial area or brain, so the radiologist should be aware of them.
Women should always inform their physician or technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. MRI has been used for scanning patients since the 1980's with no reports of any ill effects on pregnant women or their babies. However, because the baby will be in a strong magnetic field, pregnant women should not have this exam unless the potential benefit from the MRI is assumed to outweigh the potential risks. Patients need to be past their first trimester (12 weeks and up) and requires consent by the referring doctor, the OB/GYN and radiologist.
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How do I obtain my MR result?
The radiologist, a physician specializing in interpretation, will analyze your films and report the results to your doctor. You should contact your doctor 3-5 days after the exam has been completed to learn these results and what they mean to you. Immediate results may be requested by your physician.
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I received a CD of my study, can I view the images?
Absolutely, please follow the instructions listed below:
- Make sure ALL pop-up blockers are turned off.
- Including add-on blockers like Google and Yahoo tool bars.
- Place the CD into computer drive slot.
- A window will pop up saying "press here to view the image using eMed Image CD Viewer."
- Press the Underlined Text that says "click here."
- Two more windows will pop up IF the pop-up blockers are turned off.
- The smaller of the two windows is the one that makes sure you have the correct controls to view the images. This window will also have a mini, flashing pop-up/drop down at the top if the computer does NOT have the correct software installed for viewing.
- Click the flashing drop down saying "click here to install Active X control". Then click the install option.
- Another screen may pop up verifying the installation of the software - click "install" on this screen as well.
- The small window will notify you that the software has been installed correctly and this window will automatically close on its own - usually around 5 seconds.
- Once all of this is completed: click on the underlined name of the patient next to the study you wish to view and the images should appear.
- If the preceding steps fail, sign onto the website and repeat steps 5 through 9; by doing so the CD should be readable.
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Should I give the CD with my study on it to my doctor?
Your physician might want to view the images when you see him, but the CD is your copy to keep. It is for your records and to be used as a comparison, if you ever have another study of the same area that was previously scanned.
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