Before You Enter the MRI Scanner Room
There are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure your safety and comfort during the scan. Please read through the following guidelines carefully:
1. Please fill out a brief questionnaire:
- This will take around 2-3 minutes and will include questions related to your medical history, as well as a brief evaluation of your health status, such as your body weight, height, pulse rate, and blood pressure.
2. MRI safety screening interview:
It is important to inform our staff if you have any of the following, as you may not be suitable for an MRI study:
- Eye or body injury by metal
- Metallic implants or fragments in your body
- Implanted electronic devices such as a pacemaker, insulin pump, or deep brain stimulator, and its residual parts
- Pregnancy
- Surgery or tattooing within the last 6 weeks, including glow-in-the-dark tattoos, tattoos with reflective metallic appearance, facial (including tattooed permanent makeup/microblading), scalp, and genital tattoos
- You are currently or used to be a metal worker
- Cochlear implant
- If your body weight is over 250 kg (550 lbs)
3. If you have no metallic objects within your body:
You will need to get changed into a patient gown and remove all metal objects, such as body piercings, jewelry, watches, hair holders, eye spectacles, and coloured contact lenses. Please also clear your pockets of any keys, wallets, and magnetic cards such as ATM and credit cards. Additionally, please remove any eye makeup that may contain metallic substances.
During Your MRI Exam
you will undergo the following steps:
- Lie on a narrow bed inside a hollow tunnel
- Keep very still for up to 60 minutes, pending on the exact experiment design
- Follow instructions to perform various tasks, e.g. pressing buttons to make choices
- Be given a squeeze ball and press it if you experience discomfort or have concerns
- You may hear and speak to the staff during the procedure
- If needed, you can request to stop the scan at any time
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your MRI scan is safe, comfortable, and produces accurate results. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with our staff.
MRI Discomforts and Risks
Here are some potential discomforts and risks you should be aware of before undergoing an MRI scan:
- Strong magnet – Magnetic force of attraction: If unsuitable metallic objects are present inside or on your body, it can result in injuries. Please inform our staff if you have undergone surgery within the previous 6 months or have any known metallic object within your body.
- Radio waves: It could generate heat and can even lead to thermal burns due to inappropriate clothing and positioning. Please remove all metal objects, clear all pockets, and remove eye makeup.
- Hollow and narrow tunnel: You may experience discomfort, anxiety, or even shortness of breath, and sensation of claustrophobia. If you feel uncomfortable, please inform our staff during the study by pressing the squeeze bulb.
- Loud noises when scanning: You will be given ear protection in the form of headphones or earplugs. If you are uncomfortable with the noise, please inform our staff.
- Currently, there is no evidence that an MRI examination produces harm to the fetus. However, if you are currently or possibly pregnant, you cannot participate in this study now.
- Risks of MR to your health: No studies have reported significant risks associated with the levels of the MR that you will be exposed to in this MRI study. However, there could still be unforeseeable risks at the moment.