Open Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Until the advent of the Access open magnet, introduced by Diasonics in 1988, claustrophobia and the loud hammering noise were considered part of the price patients had to pay for the ben­ efits of this superb imaging approach. The fact that it was possi­ ble to obtain images of acceptable diagnostic quality while the patient was resting comfortably in pleasant airy surroundings re­ miniscent of a four-poster bed was certainly a great advantage. It became obvious, however, that the open magnet al