Magnetic resonance imaging has become the main method used for evaluating the brain, spine and joints. It can also be useful for certain applications in the chest and abdomen.
MRI uses radio waves and magnetic fields to create images of the body. X-rays are not involved in the creation of magnetic resonance images. The MRI scanner can also be used to create pictures of the arteries (MRA) and of the veins (MRV).
The magnet is a supercooled, superconducting magnet that uses liquid nitrogen and liquid helium to keep the internal workings at the proper low temperatures.
Because MRI uses radio waves to help make the images, the windows in our MRI scanner room have special screens to prevent radio waves from local radio stations from entering the room and affecting the images.
Many research institutions use MRI to image human thought (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging).