One area in which I could really use some help in terms of my 438 - 450 lb. nephew, who has a TENTATIVE diagnosis of transverse myelitis… but for whom we’re having trouble finding a large enough MRI is a follows.
Since the Siemens MAGNETOM Espree's 70 cm. diameter = 27.56 inches, that would seem to accommodate his 22 in. (and sometimes, when distended…) 22 in. to 24. in. front-to-back stomach. HOWEVER, the bed/platform sits like a shelf across the lower curvature of the MRI thus effectively reducing this 27.56 inches.
So, does anyone know:
a. What is the height from the bed/platform straight up to the inner top of the 'donut’'?
(This dimension seems absolutely critical).
b. Can the platform be removed and then what would that new height be inside the unit, i.e. the full 70 cm.? ....some slightly smaller dimension? If very marginal vis a vis my nephew's body dimension, could my nephew likely still be pulled successfully into the unit with a rubberized/slick "sheet"?
Fri Feb 18 2011
Top to Bottom Diameter Net of Platform/Bed
Fri Feb 18 2011Reply from GaryBiomed

I think you should call Siemens.
Product Information & Sales
Medical Imaging Equipment & IT Solutions Sales
51 Valley Stream Parkway
Malvern, PA 19355-1406
888-826-9702
or
Service & Support
Medical Equipment Support & Parts: Uptime Service Center 221 Gregson Drive
Cary, NC 27511
800-888-7436
This sounds pretty urgent & should be addressed by the company.
They may have a list of Health centers with their devices.
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Fri Feb 18 2011Reply from Inquirer

I'd like to thank Gary very much for the information and websites he has provided re my nephew desperately needing to identify an MRI machine to accommodate his 22 inch -- and sometimes up to 24 in. (when distended) -- front-to-back measurement at his stomach.
Siemens Cust.Service at 800-888-7436 indicates the MAGNETOM Espree platform/bed cannot be removed as it contains critical electronics; a rep. is in the process of obtaining the height dimension for me from the top surface of this platform to the inside top surface of the 'donut'. This obviously is the key measurement.
-----------------------
Re Gary's reference to Fonar info., I've left a very explicit phone message at Fonar's 888-633-3674 number asking:
1. The actual distance between the 'multipositional' 'stand/sit' unit's 2 sides;
2. Whether this distance is absolutely 'fixed'...or might be adjustable;
3. And, if my nephew is too wide side-to-side to fit that way, could his body be rotated 90 deg. in the longitudinal plane and imaged that way?
I just received a call back from Fonar. Answers:
1. and 2. 18 inches - FIXED
3. For less obese person, yes, but with 18 in. being limiting, it likely won't work either way. However, it was suggested that we somehow simulate the following ('simulate'...since he is paralyzed from sternum downward) as though he were standing with arms drawn in across his chest with one side against the wall; then measure from the wall to the center of his nose (to get a measurement from one side to his mid axis...and then double that measurement.... and compare that figure to the above 18 in. constraint.
I asked, as an alternative, if it might be even more 'space-saving' if his arms could be supported... somehow...straight upward above his head, so as to get the thoracic spine image that is so badly needed, I was told that this was a possibility.
I also was told that the Hitachi OASIS might be somewhat larger
for our purposes. I think I've checked this open type machine's gap previously and found it likely would not work.
If anyone has ANY other other possibly helpful information, please post here. Meanwhile I'm awaiting the above Siemens reply. Thanks very much, Ted Sorich
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Sat Feb 19 2011Reply from GaryBiomed

Your welcome Ted,
I'll keeping looking for other alternatives.
I wish the best for you and your nephew.
Thanks,
Gary
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Sat Feb 19 2011Reply from Inquirer

Saturday, 02192011 11:50 am PST
I have an update here re the Siemens MAGNETOM Espree 1.5T......
Per a Siemens Customer Rep. ....who had this actually measured... the distance between the top of the non-removable platform/bed and the inside top of the open-bore unit is 55.5 cm., or 21.85 inches, i.e. approx. 21-3/4 inches.
This is just a little smaller than my nephew's 'best case' front-to-back dimension at stomach level (22 in.) and quite a bit smaller than this dimension at times when his stomach muscles are distended (22 to 24 in.). Complicating this even further is the fact he is now being given prednisone for pain and that is causing fluid build-up.
As to the open type MRI's previously mentioned -- generally with a gap not geater than about 19 inches -- I measured my own body's narrowest dimension while lying on my side and making myself as narrow as possible. I'm less than half of my nephew's size and the smallest I could make myself was 17 - 1/2 inches high. I just don't think this type of MRI possibly will work unless there is a larger-gap model somewhere out there.
(Gary...thank you for your best wishes here and we will be most appreciative if you can keep us in mind as you look for other alternatives.)
Ted sorich
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