Facilities

Upright Open MRI

The Centre for Hip Health and Mobility houses the world’s only Upright Open MRI dedicated for research use. The Upright Open MRI (Paramed) is an important advance from traditional MRIs as it allows bones, joints and cartilage to be imaged during weight bearing—information that is critical to better understand joint function. The Upright Open MRI complements the other scanners in the Vancouver MRI Research Hub.

What makes the Upright Open MRI unique?

• Stand-up, walk-in design allows people to be scanned in a variety of positions including standing, sitting, squatting, and lying down
• Allows scans through a range of motion
• Allows scans during weight bearing activities (for example, standing and squatting)
• Allows scans in a position relevant to normal joint function. This is particularly important for imaging joints that have been injured or damaged by disease. For example, scans in a standing position for knee osteoarthritis could offer new insights into the underlying pathology.

What are the Hip Health and Mobility Research Applications?

At the CHHM, our focus is on research of the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscle, cartilage, and tendons. We primarily use the Upright Open MR images for research into joint motion & alignment, in healthy and disease states such as femoroacetabular impingement and osteoarthritis.

Recent Publications/Conference Proceedings:

• Open-MRI measures of cam intrusion for hips in an anterior impingement position relate to acetabular contact force. Buchan LL, Zhang H, Konan S, Heaslip I, Ratzlaff CR, Wilson DR. J Orthop Res. 2015 Aug 3.
• Effect of Posture on femoroacetabular impingement. Zhang H, Buchan L, Cibere J, Forster B, Josey L, Perrera W, Martin N, Wilson D, IMPAKT-Hip Investigators. IWOAI Iceland 2014.

What are other Health Research Applications?

The Upright Open MRI scanner can also be used to obtain novel views of:

• Spine
• Lungs
• Abdomen
• Pelvic floor (Pelvic organ prolapse study findings presented at AUA 2014 Annual Meeting)
• Blood flow (while sitting, standing, during exercise)
• With additional applications for Sports Medicine
• And more …

Can my healthcare professional refer me for a scan on the Upright Open MRI?

Not currently. We are doing important preliminary research that will contribute to the development of protocols to inform clinical decision making for the potential future use of the Upright Open MRI scanner.

This means that for now, the Upright Open MRI is reserved for researchers and clinicians who are working to find new ways to image the human body in order to solve some of the world's most pressing healthcare challenges. Our results will have a profound impact on Canadian healthcare practices and indeed, the practices around the world.

We gratefully acknowledge the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for providing us the funding for the purchase of this innovative piece of equipment and the opportunity to carry out leading edge work that cannot be done anywhere else.

Is it possible to book the Upright Open MRI for a research project? 

Yes, staff at the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility would be happy to address any questions you may have, discuss potential applications for the Upright Open MRI, and work with you to coordinate your project.

Please contact us at uomri@hiphealth.ca.

Who can use the Upright Open MRI?

Local, national, or international Researchers from:

• Academic institutions
• Industry
• Government

The primary use of the Upright Open MRI is for health research, however researchers in other fields are welcome to submit a project proposal. Our MRI research program is part of the Vancouver MRI Research Hub, so researchers have the advantage of carrying out their work on both the Upright Open MRI and the suite of MRIs at UBC's Point Grey Campus. Please contact us for more information.

Are you scheduled for an Upright Open MRI? Learn what to expect before, during and after your scan: