Open Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Until the advent of the Access open magnet, introduced by Diasonics in 1988, claustrophobia and the loud hammering noise were considered part of the price patients had to pay for the ben- efits of this superb imaging approach. The fact that it was possi- ble to obtain images of acceptable diagnostic quality while the patient was resting comfortably in pleasant airy surroundings re- miniscent of a four-poster bed was certainly a great advantage. It became obvious, however, that the open magnet also offered the opportunity for the interventional radiologist or surgeon to perform procedures, as access to the patient was immediate and can be continuous during the scanning. It was also necessary to develop methods for real-time imaging and also vary the spatial resolution, obtaining the best when speed was not essential. After this instrument showed the potential of revolutionizing both the approach to imaging as well as interventional radiology by eliminating the exposure to ionizing radiation, allowing more complicated interventions to be image guided, several other com- panies embraced the idea of open magnets. These instruments have started to proliferate and now occupy a significant portion of the market.