Fun and games (and a safety reminder) with a decommissioned MRI magnet

When a group of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, learned that an MRI machine was set to be decommissioned, they did the safe and responsible thing—they tossed a bunch of magnetic objects at it to see what would happen.

While that doesn’t seem like the safe and responsible course of action—and indeed this little experiment sent objects flying with dangerous force—the scientists involved said they recorded the destruction to demonstrate the dangers inherent with MRI magnets. Check out the video below:

Evan Godt
Evan Godt, Writer

Evan joined TriMed in 2011, writing primarily for Health Imaging. Prior to diving into medical journalism, Evan worked for the Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis. He also has worked in public relations and education. Evan studied journalism at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on broadcast media.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.