Atlantic Medical Imaging operates six advanced MRI facilities, each equipped with anti-claustrophobic technology. At our flagship office in Galloway Township we have South Jersey’s first General Electric short tunnel ultra-high field (3 Tesla) MRI.  At our EHT office and (newly opened) Bethel Road office, we offer the high field Hitachi Altaire Open MRI system. At our Festival, Cape May County and Somers Point offices we have the General Electric short tunnel, high field (1.5 Tesla) MRI.

Because the strong magnetic field used for MRI may affect certain metallic objects and electronic devices implanted in the body; our MRI staff will ask whether you have any of the following:

• Heart pacemaker or artificial heart valve
• Aneurysm clip in the brain
• Intrauterine Device (IUD)
• Prosthetic hip or knee
• Implanted vascular port (brand names Port-o-cath, Infusaport, Lifeport)
• Any metal plates, pins, screws, or surgical staples

In most cases, surgical staples, plates, pins and screws pose no risk during MRI if they have been in place for more than 4-6 weeks. You will be asked if you have ever had a bullet or shrapnel in your body, or ever worked with metal.

If there is any question of metal fragments, especially in the eye, you may be asked to have an x-ray that will detect any such metal objects. Tooth fillings usually are not affected by the magnetic field, but they may distort images of the facial area or brain, so the radiologist should be aware of them. The same is true of braces, which may make it hard to "tune" the MRI unit to your body.

You will be asked to remove anything that might degrade MRI images of the head, including hairpins, jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and any removable dental work. Dyes used in tattoos and permanent eyeliner may contain metallic iron oxide and could, in rare circumstances, heat up during MRI.

The radiologist or technologist may ask if you have any drug allergies and whether you have undergone any surgery in the past. If you are or might be pregnant, mention it to the MRI staff.