Redmond Regional Medical Center unveiled its new 3T MRI suite Thursday during a Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting. Curt Layton, director of radiology at Redmond, said the cost of the new technology and care suite by the time it is completely finished will probably exceed $3 million.

MRI is an acronym for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a procedure which uses powerful magnets, radio waves and a computer to make detailed pictures inside the body. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, an MRI doesn’t use radiation.

The General Electric 3T unit generates a magnetic field that is twice the strength of the old standard 1.5T machines and 10 to 15 times the strength of low-field or open MRI scanners. The technology gives the medical care team a much greater ability to separate tissues per their imaging protocols, which aids in their ultimate diagnosis.

The new care suite includes several amenities that are designed to make the experience much more positive for the patient.

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