3T MRI

Watch the virtual tour of the imaging department

Open-bore 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at Seaside Imaging
Comfort, speed, quality and confidence -- that’s what you will experience when you come to MRIsland. Relax in an Adirondack chair and smell the ocean spray while you wait to have your MRI exam in a magnet that comfortably accommodates patients of all different shapes and sizes. Our 3T MRI offers the highest clinical field strength available and has an extra-large opening (33% larger than average MRI openings) that helps reduce anxiety and claustrophobia, allowing for a more relaxing experience. This state-of-the-art MRI offers exclusive TIM (Total Imaging Matrix) technology that makes it possible to scan multiple areas of the body with no repositioning…making for a quicker exam. This powerful magnet provides extraordinary images to help your physician make a more confident diagnosis. Your island experience isn’t over, though, until you enjoy a tropical smoothie from our Seasons Café once your exam is complete.

What is an MRI?
MRI - Magnetic resonance imaging uses a combination of magnetism, radio waves and computer processing to create detailed images of nearly every body part and internal structure - from bones and joints to vital organs and tiny blood vessels in the brain. Unlike imaging techniques based on x-ray, with MRI there's no exposure to radiation. It is among the safest and most versatile of imaging methods. Since its introduction for medical purposes in the 1970s, advances in MRI technology have greatly improved image quality, speed and convenience for patients, while giving physicians a safe and versatile tool for screening, diagnosing, surgical planning, treatment and reconstruction. 

Doctors typically prescribe MRI testing to diagnose or treat the following:

• Cysts, tumors and cancer throughout the body
• Blockages or enlargement of blood vessels and certain heart problems
• Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and other abdominal organs
• Abnormalities and diseases of the reproductive organs, including the causes of infertility, in both women and men
• Orthopedic injuries or disorders - MRI is used to plan and guide orthopedic surgery

MRI scanners vary in size and configuration, but all operate on the sample principle. During an MRI scan, the patient lies on a flat table in a short, tunnel-like structure that houses a powerful magnet. The combination of magnetic field and radio waves temporarily interacts at the subatomic level with the water molecules contained within organ tissues. The scanner detects the energy created by this interaction and a computer reconstructs the information into images visible on a monitor.