The short answer
Open MRI and wide-bore MRI are different scanner designs.
An open MRI is built to leave more of the sides open. A wide-bore MRI still has a cylinder-shaped opening, but that opening has a larger diameter than a traditional MRI bore. A scanner can be wide-bore without being an open MRI.
Advanced Imaging Reno uses a 1.5T FUJIFILM ECHELON Synergy with a 70-centimeter wide bore. AIR does not describe this system as an open MRI.
What "bore" means in MRI
The bore is the center opening of the MRI magnet. During the exam, the table moves so the body area being scanned is positioned in the magnet.
Bore size is one part of the physical setup. The length and shape of the scanner, the table, the equipment placed around the body area, and your position for the exam also affect what the space feels like.
This is why a simple search for "open MRI" may not tell you what you actually want to know. You may be looking for a wider opening, a shorter scanner, more space around a particular body area, or a plan for claustrophobia. Those are separate questions.
What open MRI means
RadiologyInfo.org, the patient information site from the American College of Radiology and Radiological Society of North America, explains that some MRI units are designed to be more open. These scanners leave more open space around the sides instead of using the same enclosed cylinder shape as a traditional unit.
Open design does not mean every exam can be performed on that scanner. RadiologyInfo notes that open MRI is not available for certain exams. The imaging team still has to match the equipment and exam plan to the clinical question.
What wide-bore MRI means
A wide-bore MRI has a larger-diameter center opening. It is still a bore, so the scanner keeps a cylinder-shaped opening rather than open sides.
Manufacturers use a measurement in centimeters to describe bore diameter. FUJIFILM lists the ECHELON Synergy as a 1.5T MRI with a 70-centimeter wide bore.
The measurement gives you a useful, concrete fact. It does not tell you how an individual exam will feel, whether a person will fit safely, how much of the body will be inside the magnet, or whether the scanner is right for a particular exam.
Wide-bore does not mean open
The terms are often mixed together online, but they should not be used as synonyms.
- Open MRI describes a scanner designed with more open sides.
- Wide-bore MRI describes a scanner with a larger-diameter bore.
A listing that says "open" may be using the word loosely to mean spacious. Ask for the scanner design and bore measurement instead of relying on one label.
Which MRI system does AIR use?
AIR's verified equipment record identifies its scanner as a 1.5T FUJIFILM ECHELON Synergy with a 70-centimeter wide bore.
That is a wide-bore MRI. It is not an open-sided MRI.
This distinction matters because it gives you a factual answer before you call. It also keeps AIR from promising an equipment type it does not offer.
Scanner shape is only one part of planning
The scanner description cannot answer the whole scheduling question.
The imaging team also needs to know the exact exam, the body area being scanned, the equipment or coils used for that exam, and whether there are any implants, devices, metal, mobility needs, or other safety considerations. A wider opening does not replace MRI safety screening.
If a diagnostic MRI was ordered, confirm that the order and protocol can be performed on the available system. If you are considering elective screening, ask what the planned scan includes and how long AIR expects your package to take.
If claustrophobia is the main concern
Tell the imaging center before the appointment. Do not wait until you are on the table.
A larger-diameter bore may feel less confined for some people, but no bore measurement can promise that an individual will be comfortable or complete the exam. The body area being scanned and the position required can change how much of you is inside the scanner.
Ask what you will see, hear, and feel during your exact exam. Ask how you can communicate with the technologist and what the process is if you need to pause. AIR's MRI preparation and claustrophobia guide covers those questions in more detail.
Questions to ask before you schedule
Use specific questions instead of asking only whether the scanner is "open."
- What is the scanner model and bore diameter?
- Is it open-sided or wide-bore?
- Can my exact exam be performed on that system?
- What part of my body will be inside the bore?
- What position will I need to hold?
- How will I communicate with the technologist?
- What should I do before the appointment if I am concerned about confined spaces?
AIR can answer current equipment and scheduling questions by phone. Individual safety and exam decisions still belong with the imaging team and the clinician responsible for your care.
The exact exam still comes first
Scanner terminology can help you compare imaging centers, but it is only a starting point.
Confirm the equipment, then confirm the exam. An open design may not support every study. A wide bore may provide more diameter without changing the need for safety screening, the correct protocol, or a clear plan for anxiety and communication.
For AIR's verified facility and equipment information, read About Advanced Imaging Reno. For questions about your visit, use the new patient guide or contact AIR before you schedule.