Patient guide
What Is an Open MRI, and Is It Right for You?
Room to breathe, explained
An open MRI is a scanner with open sides instead of a long, closed tube. You lie on a table with more space around you, and your doctor still gets the pictures they need. That extra room can make the visit feel calmer. Find the center closest to you on our Locations page, or call us and we will help you pick.
How an open MRI feels
Space
A standard MRI scanner is a tube. The walls sit close, and the ends are the only openings. An open MRI is built differently. It has open sides, so you can see the room around you instead of a curved wall.
Our open MRI gives you room to breathe.
Sound
MRI is loud, open or not. Expect knocking and buzzing while the pictures are taken. Your technologist will tell you what to expect before you start, so the noise is not a surprise.
Time on the table
It depends on the body part and the pictures your doctor ordered. Scheduling can give you an idea for your exam when you book. Your only job is to lie still, and your technologist will help you get comfortable first.
Who an open MRI can suit
If enclosed spaces make you uneasy, an open scanner may feel more comfortable. If a tube has been hard for you in the past, it is worth asking about. If you simply like to see the room around you, that is a good enough reason too.
Not every exam can be done on every scanner. Tell Scheduling what your doctor ordered and they can tell you which scanner your exam uses.
Open air, wide open, wide-bore: are they the same?
People search for this scanner under a few names: open air MRI, wide open MRI, open MRI machine. They usually mean the same idea, a scanner that is not a closed tube.
A wide-bore MRI is different. It is still a tunnel, just a roomier one. If you are choosing between the two, call us and we will talk it through.
What we scan on our open scanners
Doctors order MRI for many parts of the body, such as the spine, joints and brain. Which of those we scan on our open scanners can differ from center to center. Tell Scheduling what your doctor ordered, and they will point you to the right center and scanner.
You can read more on our open MRI service page.
What a visit looks like
- Book. Online or by phone. Have your doctor’s order close by.
- Tell us about metal. Mention any implant, device or metal in your body when you book. It matters for MRI, and we would rather hear it early.
- Check in. Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and your doctor’s order. Wear comfortable clothes without metal.
- Meet your technologist. We will explain every step before the scan starts.
- Have your scan. You lie on the table and keep still while the pictures are taken. If you need anything, say so.
- Hear back through your doctor. A radiologist reads your pictures and sends a report to the doctor who ordered your scan. Clear answers, shared with your doctor.
Where to book
Mosaic Diagnostic Imaging has centers across New York City and Long Island. See all of them, with addresses, hours and directions, on our Locations page. Tell Scheduling what your doctor ordered and they will match it to the right center and scanner.
Questions people ask
Does an open MRI take longer than a standard MRI?
Scan time depends on the exam and the scanner used, not only on whether the scanner is open. Scheduling can give you an idea for your exam when you book.
Can I bring someone with me?
Ask Scheduling when you book. Anyone who goes into the scanner room has to be screened for metal first, the same as you.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes without metal, such as zippers, snaps or underwire. Leave jewelry and watches at home when you can. If something has metal, tell the team at check-in and they will tell you what to do.
Do I need to stop eating or drinking before?
It depends on your exam. Some exams ask you to skip food or drink beforehand. Others do not. Scheduling will tell you what applies to yours when you book.
How soon will my doctor have the results?
A radiologist reads your pictures and sends a report to the doctor who ordered your scan. How soon depends on the exam and on your doctor’s office, so ask Scheduling what to expect for yours. Your doctor goes over the results with you.
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.
Keep reading
- Our open MRI service
- All Mosaic Diagnostic Imaging centers
- Another scanner type: 3T MRI
- Open, wide-bore and stand-up MRI compared
- What to expect at an open MRI visit