Open MRI vs Closed MRI: The Trade-Offs

For patients with severe claustrophobia or bariatric (heavy) body types, sliding into a narrow 60cm MRI tube is physically impossible. Enter the Open MRI. But is it just as good?

The Comfort vs Quality Trade-Off

A standard "Closed" MRI uses a cylindrical electromagnet that surrounds the patient. Because the magnetic field goes all the way around, it is very strong (1.5T to 3.0T). This yields incredibly sharp, high-resolution images in a short amount of time.

An "Open" MRI looks more like a hamburger bun. The magnetic field is generated from flat panels above and below the patient, leaving the sides completely open. The trade-off is physics: you cannot generate as strong of a magnetic field this way. Most Open MRIs operate between 0.3T and 1.2T.

Lower magnetic strength means lower image resolution and longer scan times. While an Open MRI is perfectly adequate for diagnosing a herniated disc or a torn ACL, neurosurgeons looking for microscopic brain tumors will almost always demand a 1.5T or 3T closed scan.

Patient Weight Limits

Standard closed MRI tables have a strict weight limit (usually 350 to 440 lbs), and the "bore" (the hole) is only 60cm to 70cm wide. True Open MRIs can accommodate patients up to 500-600 lbs depending on the model.