By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui Memorial Medical Center has acquired the most advanced magnetic resonance imaging scanner in the state, at a cost of $1.4 million.
The scanner is smaller and faster than its predecessor and provides more detailed images of the brain and other organs and tissues.
"The nice thing about this MRI is that it has really good resolution so you can do a faster exam," said neuroradiologist Dr. Michael May. "For patients who are claustrophobic, they can get in and out a little faster, and with the high resolution we’re able to do some elegant types of exams."
High resolution means the scanner can produce images of the tiniest branches of blood vessels, May said, allowing doctors to hunt for aneurysms or other signs of trouble. It also can help doctors precisely map abnormalities in preparation for surgery.
In addition, higher-resolution images mean patients can avoid invasive procedures requiring a tube down the throat or injection with a large needle that were needed to get better pictures on lesser devices.
Faster scans — 22 seconds for an express image of the brain — can reduce the problem of patient motion and make it easier to work with fidgety children.
The speedier MRI also will allow May and others to fit in more patients during a day.
MRI scanners produce images of the body by means of a strong magnetic field and low-energy radio waves. They are used for a host of diagnostic purposes including stroke, heart disease, tumors and sports injuries.
Maui Memorial’s MRI came with four software packages for examining different aspects of the body: neurological, vascular, cardiac, and muscular-skeletal.
The scanner has been in heavy use since it went into operation a month ago. It replaced a machine that was 7 years old, ancient in terms of medical technology. May said the new MRI will have a longer life expectancy with the help of software upgrades.
It is in the same facility that held the old device. The new equipment and building renovations cost a total of $2.2 million.
MRI section supervisor Tim Moore said the room that houses the new scanner has been designed with patients in mind. Natural lighting puts them at ease, and better ventilation and music headphones make time in the tube more tolerable. The tube itself is wider, to accommodate larger patients.
"This is the only one like it in Hawai‘i. This type of machine is found only at large universities or major hospitals," said Moore.
With the cutting-edge equipment, Maui Memorial could become a medical showplace for the Pacific Rim, he said.
The hospital already has an agreement to use the MRI for research, Moore said.
The hospital is holding an open house from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
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