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The Imaging Center at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center recently
opened its new and enhanced MRI Suite. In addition to our two state-of-the-art
MRI units, we’ve added a new ultra-high-field 3.0T Philips short
bore MRI and a new 1.0T Philips Open MRI.
Ambient Experience for Open MRI
A
new, highly-sophisticated projector system
called the Ambient Experience has been added
to the new 1.0T Open MRI room. The Ambient
Experience virtually transforms the room into
a multi-dimensional theatre where images such
as fish or nature themes
are projected onto the specially-designed walls.
Each of the themes has accompanying lighting
and music which makes children and anxious adults feel more relaxed
and at ease during their procedure.
As soothing music fills the room, the lights are dimmed, and marine
life frolics around. Or clusters of cottony clouds dance by. Or fields
of wheat wave in a gentle breeze. These, or other larger-than-life
images of your choosing, are projected onto the circular walls for
relaxation and enjoyment.
The Ambient Experience is a virtual movie theatre which enables patients
to choose their own music, lighting and wall images. The Ambient Experience
virtually transforms the Open MRI room into a multi-dimensional theatre
where special images such as fish or nature scenes are projected.
Each of the themes has accompanying sounds and music which reduces
anxiety and replaces it with amazement. The Ambient Experience provides
our pediatric, adolescent and adult patients the absolute maximum
in patient comfort, and breaks down the anxiety and tension levels.
“We chose to include the Ambient Experience with our new Open
MRI because it dramatically reduces patient anxiety and makes our
patients feel more comfortable. It also enables us to obtain better
images because our patients are more inclined to lay still and potentially
reduces the need for repeat examinations,” explains Lyle Gesner,
M.D., section chief of neuroradiology at Saint Barnabas.
“A simple MRI test can take anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes.
Having a relaxing distraction makes the test seem less intimidating
to many people, especially our pediatric patients,” explains
Dr. Gesner. “Many of our young patients require sedation for
a test such as MRI because they can not relax enough and lay still
for a long enough period of time. We’re hopeful that the Ambient
Experience will enable us to decrease the amount of pediatric sedations
that have been necessary in the past.”
As patients check-in for an Open MRI exam, they can choose from a
variety of themes. As soon as the patient enters the room, the theme
is initiated, and the environment becomes tailored to the patient’s
preferences.
About the New 3.0T MRI
The 3.0T short bore MRI produces the most exquisite
and highest quality images in a clinical setting, and is especially
useful in detecting minute abnormalities related to neurological and
vascular diseases. This Philips 3.0T offers one of the most patient
friendly designs, with the widest patient opening of any short bore
MRI available today, and also boasts one of the fastest scan times
on the market.
About the New 1.0T Open MRI
The 1.0T Open MRI is a no compromise MRI, providing
you with 1.5T resolution quality on 1.0T unit. The new Open MRI offers
the widest, most open design to ease stress and claustrophobia.
In addition, the room itself was designed to
create a more relaxed and soothing environment, which is highlighted
by the use of the Ambient Experience.
Total Intravenous Anesthesia Now Available
For those cases that require sedation, the Imaging
Center will now offer IV sedation. Pediatric anesthesiologists will
be on site to administer and monitor all patients under sedation.
Pediatric Blood Drawing
For patients who require blood tests, the Imaging
Center will provide laboratory services to pediatric patients to
draw blood during MR procedure.
The Kitten Scan
A new miniature scanner has been added to the
waiting area to help children prepare for their
test. Children select a toy, and place it on
an interactive miniature scanner to see why the
toy is “sick.”
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