|  Exam Information  |  How does MRI operate?  |  What to Expect?  |  Directions

Sutter Surgical Hospital - North Valley Open MRI provides a comfortable and relaxing experience for our patients, utilizing the most Advanced Open MRI Technology in its class!

Sutter Surgical Hospital’s Open MRI is a Hitachi AIRIS Elite. Some of the highlights of this Open MRI include:

Especially helpful for those patients who are claustrophobic or larger than average size.

The design of this open magnet makes it easy for the technologist to directly attend to the patient, with access on all four sides.

The table is padded for patient comfort and power-driven to aid in transferring patients from hospital beds or wheelchairs.

There is a 2-way intercom system which allows the technologist to easily communicate with the patient during the scan.

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Exam Information

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) combines the physical properties of strong magnetic fields with radio waves to produce computer-generated soft tissue images within any plane of the body. This popular imaging technique can be used as a primary diagnostic tool to provide a quick and accurate diagnosis for your physician.

In some situations, this procedure can reduce the need for further diagnostic procedures or invasive procedures, such as exploratory surgery, that may have associated complications. MRI is noninvasive procedure with no known side or after effects. The procedure is painless; in fact, you won't see or feel anything. A faint knocking sound will be heard from the machine, which is simply the imaging process in operation. The benefits of magnetic resonance imaging are many, and new applications are being continually developed through ongoing research. The procedure is used for all parts of the body and is effective in the clinical evaluation of the following conditions:
 
Brain disorders
Traumatic injuries
Eye abnormalities
Spine diseases
Tumor detection
Liver and other abdominal diseases
Knee and shoulder injuries
Musculoskeletal disorders
Facial/Neck abnormalities
Infection
Cardiac malformations
Blood flow and vessel disorders
 
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How does MRI operate?

MRI images are formed when signals emitted by body tissue are processed by software and turned into clinical images. These signals are generated using a safe magnetic field in combination with radio waves of a specific frequency. Different tissue characteristics are translated into different contrast levels on the image. A typical procedure averages 30 minutes or longer, depending on the type of information required by your physician. You can help to make your images as clean as possible by relaxing and remaining still during the exam.

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What to Expect?

No special preparation is required prior to the MRI exam. You may eat normally and go about your daily routine. Continue to take any medication prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise directed. Prior to entering the scan room for your exam, you will be asked to leave those items that are not compatible with a magnetic field in a safe place outside the MRI scan room. Some of these items is listed below:
 
Coins
Jewelry
Watches
Glasses
Credit cards
Hearing aids
Keys
Hair pins
Other metal objects

You may also be asked to remove make-up and dentures and to wear a hospital gown to avoid magnetic interference from belt buckles and zippers. Once you are situated on the table, make sure you are comfortable so that it is easy to remain still for the duration of the examination. Breathe normally. Once the examination has begun, you will hear a knocking sound that represents changes in the magnetic field. This is a normal part of the imaging process. At the conclusion of the exam, the technologists will assist you out of the scan room.

Other items that may be incompatible are implants and similar items. Check with your physician or MRI technologists if you have had any brain, ear, or eye surgeries or have any of the following:
 
Pacemaker
Neurostimulator (TENS unit)
Metal implants
Intrauterine device (IUD), etc.
Aneurysm clips
Surgical staples
Implanted drug infusion device
Foreign metal objects in the eye
Shrapnel or bullet wounds
Permanent eyeliner

If you are pregnant, please notify your physician.

You can rest assured during your MRI examination a technologist will be with you and will able to see you at all times. For your convenience, an intercom system is built into the MR imager so that if you need anything, the technologist will be right there.

In certain instances, a contrast agent may be administered to enhance the study. There are no extra precautions if your physician requires this type of study. Consult the physician or technologist if you have any questions.

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Sutter Surgical Hospital - North Valley offers Hitachi AIRIS Elite, high performance Open MRI system combines the unmatched comfort of Hitachi's unique award-winning open-air gantry with clinical capabilities that rival those of many high-field closed type systems. The innovative open-air gantry design of the AIRIS Elite provides the opportunity to constantly and directly attend to patients and accommodate the most demanding cases such as anxious, claustrophobic, and large patients. Overall, the AIRIS Elite design provides easy operator access and reassurance to the patient.

We look forward to taking care of your MRI needs!

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Directions

We are conveniently located in Imaging Services Department inside Sutter Surgical Hospital - North Valley.
From Marysville:
Take 5th Street Bridge to Yuba City. Turn left on Plumas Blvd. Make a left on C Street. Make a right for hospital entrance and parking.
From Yuba City:
Take Bridge Street towards Marysville. Turn right on Plumas Blvd. Make a left on C Street. Make a right for hospital entrance and parking. (Will include map image)

455 Plumas Blvd
Yuba City, CA
(530) 749-5721

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