Types of Ventilator Used in MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic machine in widespread use in the medical field. It is a noninvasive medical test, utilizing a magnetic field with radio pulses, producing detailed pictures on a computer of whatever part of the human body is scanned. MRI is used quite frequently in hospitals to obtain scans of patients, some of whom are very ill, and need the use of a ventilator. So it has been necessary to manufacture MRI-compatible ventilators.

Portable

• Cardinal Health Medical Products and Services manufactures a MRI-compatible transport ventilator. This machine is lightweight and compact so it can be taken wherever the need arises. It is available for emergency use, and can be used by all ages of patients, from pediatric to adult.

Modification

• Sometimes in hospitals, the standard MRI-compatible ventilator is insufficient for a particular patient's needs. The National Institutes of Health reported a study to see whether or not a standard critical-care ventilator could be modified to be compatible with a MRI, in the event a critical-care patent needed the extra support of that ventilator. The report concluded that with minor modifications, a Siemens 900C could be used with a MRI.

Standard

• Other manuafacturers, like Magmedix, make MRI-compatible ventilators for standard care and use. These machines are marketed as being constant, powerful and accurate. They also produce a constant flow pattern, which is critical for the patient, who, in addition to needing a ventilator, is under stress from the MRI testing.