Veterinary MRI installations present a unique challenge to shield designers and installers. These facilities must have the flexibility to serve companion animals (as small as kittens and puppies) and farm animals weighing up to 1,000 pounds or more (such as cattle and horses).
IMEDCO America, a provider of MRI (RF) shielding for the medical industry for almost 30 years, was recently tapped to design and build the shield for new MR equipment at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.
One of the largest veterinary hospitals in the country, The Veterinary Medical Center added a new, on-site MRI machine to enhance their capabilities. The state of the art MRI yields exceptional anatomic detail empowering the OSUveterinary team to provide earlier diagnosis and treatment – leading to more positive outcomes.
Because of the varying characteristics of the animal patients and unique needs of the facility, IMEDCO created a custom design. The primary considerations for this custom MRI design: safety, functionality, and efficiency.
TOP 4 THINGS TO CONSIDER
Accessibility: Serving farm animals, in addition to smaller companion animals, the housing structure for the MR equipment, as well as its entryway, had to accommodate large animals. The IMEDCO designed doors are massive and look to barn doors. They easily slide open to accommodate sizable animals.
Noise Reduction: And because many animals are sensitive to loud and unfamiliar noises, IMEDCO also integrated our reliable acoustic shielding into the structure to help alleviate the discomfort and fear associated with the sounds emanating from the MR equipment.
Sanitation: The floor of the facility had to be made of material that could be easily cleaned and maintained, as animal fluid and waste would be a frequent issue.
Ferromagnetic Detection (FMD) Systems: The magnetic fields generated by MRI scanners can cause significant safety risk if approached by any ferromagnetic materials. Such objects whether embedded in the patient or carried into the room unknowingly by the staff member can pose a significant hazard to the animal and the technicians, as well as the MRI itself. For this reason, FMDs should be standard in veterinary environments, and animals should be screened prior to entering the MRI suite.
IMEDCO America is proud to venture into new territories, providing MRI (RF) shielding for not only the human medical industry, but that of animal patients, as well. This new MRI unit at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Center will allow doctors to offer the most advanced imaging, conduct leading-edge clinical trials, and provide the best possible care for its animal patients—and their human companions—for many years to come.
To learn more about IMEDCO America and our various products and services, please contact us at 317.773.8500.
