1. The MRI Magnet is extremely powerful

The magnet in a 1.5T scanner is 30,000 times stronger than that produced by the Earth!

Enough to lift a car. 🧲 🚙

2. Magnets make metal stuff fly (like bullets):

Here’s a hospital bed that has been picked up and wedged in the MRI.

This is why we don’t bring beds into the scanner room.

Luckily a person wasn’t between the two. 😱

That means you won’t be able to hold onto/control fingernail clippers, pocket knives, scissors, pens, or…. your loaded gun.

SimplyPhysics has a gallery of other objects stuck in MRIs. ⤵️

http://www.simplyphysics.com/safety.html

3. Safety is Serious

MRIs technologists take injury prevention very seriously.

Workers go through rigorous safety training.

Patients go through extensive screening. In the US, a metal detector wand is used to ensure patients didn’t forget something metal in their pockets.

4. MRIs rely on Helium 🎈

MRIs generate lots of heat & helium keeps magnetic coils cool - at a steady 4.2 Kelvin (-452.2 F).

Recurrent liquid helium shortages poses a real threat to access to this technology.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna69309

5. The Magnet is ALWAYS On

Every day, all year long - the powerful MRI magnet is on.

Never underestimate the power of a giant spinning magnet you don’t understand.

https://twitter.com/burgartbioethix/status/1509229745514315781

6. Shutting down a magnet is a smoke show

In an emergency, shutting down an MRI (“quenching”) is a BIG deal - dangerous & expensive.

Below is a video of an older model machine that used lots of helium (you’ll see it billowing out a roof vent).

https://youtu.be/9SOUJP5dFEg

TL;DR

🚨 NEVER BRING A GUN TO MRI

🧲 MRI magnet = extremely powerful

🚀 Magnets make metal stuff fly

🦺 MRI safety is serious

🎈 MRIs need helium to function (helium shortage = problem)

☢️ MRI is ALWAYS on

💨 Cool video of quenching an MRI