In order to get images of the internal organs of the body, one of the best methods used by doctors is MRI or Medical Resonance Imaging. X-rays are not at all used while doing MRI. Radio waves, heavy magnets and computers are used to scan the body of human beings and then generate such images which cannot be received by using traditional X-ray machines. As MRI can make a difference between the soft tissues present in the body, it is used a lot for getting images of the spine, brain and for musculoskeletal studies.  

If you have seen the conventional MRI machine then you might know that it is a machine which is not open from all sides. The patient first lays down on a platform and then he enters the machine. Such machines are not good for those people who have fear of closed spaces. People who do not feel much comfortable in traditional MRI machines have the option of getting MRI done through Open MRI machines. An open MRI scan is done in various hospitals.

While getting an open MRI scan done, the patient can see and talk to the technician. Claustrophobic people find such a system of MRI, best. It has been observed that most people are not very comfortable in getting MRI from the conventional MRI machines. Earlier, only claustrophobic people were going in for an open MRI scan but now days most of the people opt for this.

One can also notice that in many hospitals, such MRI rooms are made where many light enhanced pictures are present. The reason behind this is they want to make people feel quite comfortable as they feel in outside environment. Such a MRI facility has come as a treat for people whose nightmare is to enter a MRI machine which is not open. Open MRI machines are open from three sides. Through these sides, the patient can easily see the technician who is performing the whole procedure.

For getting open MRI scan, there are no special preparations which are required to be done. Unless your doctor has told you to do something different from your routine, you need to follow your routine as you do every day. Normally, such a procedure lasts for thirty to sixty minutes. One needs to make his body and clothes free from all kinds of metal objects as they can obstruct the MRI procedure from getting completed normally.