Medical technology is at a point never before thought possible. Rapid advancements in science, research, and product design and manufacturing have revolutionised healthcare and we’re seeing new tests and treatments coming out all the time.
One of the most important healthcare developments in modern times has been the invention of the MRI machine. Let’s take a look at what an MRI machine is and discuss what kind of uses it has in the modern healthcare industry.
What Is An MRI?
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It is the process of using powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create highly detailed and accurate images of the inside of the body. The first use of an MRI was recorded back in the 1970s at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. For some time, MRIs remained highly specialised and were reserved for a select few uses and cases. However, today MRIs are commonplace and can be found at almost all major hospitals .
Modern MRI machines are highly advanced and use specialist tools and software, such as those produced by CircleCVI, and they are used in the diagnosis of a range of different conditions. Let’s find out more.
Heart Conditions
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. For this reason, healthcare professionals have worked tirelessly to discover new ways of both treating and preventing heart conditions.
Cardiac MRIs are used to assess the health of the heart and are vital in the diagnosis of a range of cardiovascular conditions. Cardia MRIs can be used to detect things like heart valve disease, tumours, inherited heart disease, congenital heart disease, and coronary heart disease.
Cardiac MRIs have been proven to be more effective at detecting heart disease than traditional tests. This means patients have to undergo fewer procedures when seeking a diagnosis, significantly reducing stress for them as well as time and resources for healthcare services.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of a violent blow to the head. These can often be caused in car or road accidents. TBI can result in damaged tissue, bruising, or bleeding in the brain. The effects can be catastrophic, TBI can cause both physical and psychological problems and can be a life-changing event for sufferers.
If a patient is suspected to have TBI, and MRI scan can reveal the extent of the damage caused and what areas of the brain are affected. By drawing up a detailed image of the brain, doctors, who may want to navigate to this website, can assess the severity of the injury and begin to formulate a plan for that patient moving forward.
Stroke
A stroke is an incredibly serious medical event, and the consequences can be devastating for those affected. Strokes are caused by a blockage to the blood supply to the brain and can be either haemorrhagic or ischemic. MRI machines are incredibly effective at detecting both types of strokes and can be used to evaluate damage to the brain as little as an hour after the stroke has occurred.
Conclusion
MRI machines are absolutely vital in modern healthcare. They have an enormous range of uses and can be used to diagnose a number of different conditions and diseases.