Intraoperative MRI Scanner
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, allows surgeons to distinguish a tumor from healthy tissue and helps them determine if they have successfully removed all of a tumor. In the past, surgeons had to rely on MRI images taken before surgery, and then wait until after surgery to confirm the entire tumor was removed. With an intraoperative MRI scanner (IMRIS), an MRI can be performed during surgery, right in the operating room. This lets neurosurgeons see real-time images of the brain, so they can check the progress of surgery and make adjustments as necessary.
IU Health Methodist Hospital is the only hospital in the state that can provide this revolutionary technology. The IMRIS moves back and forth on rails between two integrated operating rooms, allowing surgeons to bring the MRI technology to the patient, rather than moving the patient. This can be particularly helpful for people who are in critical condition. This advanced technology helps neurosurgeons at IU Health Neuroscience safely remove more of a tumor, and reduce the need for follow-up surgery. The IMRIS also enables neurosurgeons to avoid critical areas by allowing them to see more sections of the brain during surgery.
Currently, fewer than 40 hospitals worldwide feature the IMRIS technology.
Watch the story of Travis Weir, a patient who underwent surgery for a brain tumor, only to have it come back years later. Expert physicians at IU Health Neuroscience used the latest technology to provide leading-edge care to treat the tumor successfully and allow Travis to get on with his life.