MRI scanner

Medical imaging technique Modern 3 Tesla clinical MRI scanner. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique mostly used in radiology and nuclear medicine in order to investigate the anatomy and physiology of the body, and to detect pathologies including tumors, inflammation, neurological conditions such as stroke, disorders of muscles and joints, and abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels among other conditions. Contrast agents may be injected intravenously or into a joint to enhance the image and facilitate diagnosis. Unlike CT scans and X-rays, MRI does not use ionizing radiation and is therefore considered a safe procedure, making it suitable for use in children and for repeated examinations. Patients with specific non-ferromagnetic metal implants, cochlear implants, and cardiac pacemakers nowadays may also have an MRI in spite of effects of the strong magnetic fields. This does not apply on older devices, and details for medical professionals are provided by the device's manufacturer. Certain atomic nuclei are able to absorb and emit radio frequency energy when placed in an external magnetic field. In clinical and research MRI, hydrogen atoms are most o