Patient guide
Open, Wide-Bore and Stand-Up MRI: What Is the Difference?
Choosing the scanner that fits you
An open MRI has open sides. A wide-bore MRI is still a tunnel, just a roomier one. A stand-up MRI scans you sitting or standing instead of lying down. They are three different ideas, and the right fit depends on your exam and on what feels comfortable to you. Call us and Scheduling will talk it through.
The three types side by side
| Open MRI | Wide-bore MRI | Stand-up (upright) MRI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is built | Open sides instead of a closed tube | A tunnel with a wider opening | A scanner you sit or stand in |
| What you do | Lie on a table | Lie on a table | Sit or stand, in some designs |
| What you may notice | You can see the room around you | More space, but still a tunnel | You are upright, which some exams call for |
| Worth asking about | Which exams it can do | How wide the opening is | Whether it fits your exam |
How each one may feel
Open MRI
An open scanner gives you more space around your body, and you can see the room. Many people find that easier if enclosed spaces make them uneasy. MRI is loud in every type of scanner.
Wide-bore MRI
A wide-bore scanner is still a tunnel, but a roomier one. It may feel less tight than a standard tube. You cannot see out the sides as you can in an open scanner.
Stand-up (upright) MRI
A stand-up scanner takes pictures while you are sitting or standing. Some doctors order it when a problem shows up only under the body’s own weight. Not every provider offers one.
How to choose
Start with your doctor’s order. Your doctor decides which exam you need, and not every exam can be done on every scanner. Then think about comfort: do you want more room, or to see around you? Last, ask about fit. If size or movement is a worry, tell Scheduling when you book.
You do not have to work this out alone. Call 888-220-0508 and tell us what your doctor ordered.
What we offer
We offer open MRI and 3T MRI. Read about them on our open MRI service page and our 3T MRI page. If you are looking for a wide-bore or stand-up scanner, call us and Scheduling will tell you what we have for your exam.
Questions people ask
Is a wide-bore MRI the same as an open MRI?
No. An open MRI has open sides. A wide-bore MRI is still a tunnel, just a roomier one. If you are choosing between them, call 888-220-0508 and we will talk it through.
Do you offer a stand-up MRI?
Call 888-220-0508. Scheduling can tell you what we offer for your exam and, if we do not have what you are looking for, what to ask your doctor.
Is image quality different between them?
Your doctor chooses the scanner that suits your exam. Scheduling can tell you which scanner your exam uses. We make no promises about image quality by scanner type.
Can larger patients use an open scanner?
Size and weight limits are different for each scanner. Tell Scheduling when you book so they can match you to the right one.