Finally — An MRI Scan Without Fear, Pain, or Claustrophobia
Home → Finally… An MRI Scan Without Fear, Pain, or Claustrophobia
Advanced Diagnostic Assessment
Real-time, weight-bearing and natural-position imaging captures how your body truly functions, enabling precise evaluation and guiding effective treatment plans for faster recovery.
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KNEE PAIN INJECTION
Knee Replacement
Shoulder Pain Injections
Shoulder Impingement treatment
acn Reconstruction
Rotator cuff repair
painless injection treatment
ROBOTIC Knee Replacement
MSK ULTRASOUND SCAN
Overview of Open and Upright MRI Scan
Open MRI provides a comfortable, open, and pain-free imaging experience, allowing accurate diagnosis of joint, spine, and soft tissue conditions without claustrophobia or anxiety. Weight bearing views also available for Lumbar spine, Knees and Ankles.
Comfortable MRI Experience for Accurate Diagnosis
You’re here because something isn’t right. Maybe it’s constant back pain, a knee that won’t heal, or a shoulder that keeps you awake at night. Or maybe it’s the anxiety the thought of being inside a narrow, noisy tunnel, unable to move and struggling to breathe.
Thousands of people delay MRI scans not because they don’t need answers, but because the experience feels overwhelming. At Droitwich Knee Clinic, we have a better way. The ESAOTE Open MRI provides the same high-quality diagnostic images as a conventional MRI, in a completely open environment with no tunnel, no enclosed space, and no need to lie completely still in a confined tube.
What If Your MRI Felt… Comfortable?
Imagine sitting or standing naturally, with open space around you, a calm quiet environment, and the ability to see your surroundings throughout the scan feeling in control, not trapped. That is exactly what the ESAOTE Open MRI Scanner at Droitwich Knee Clinic offers.
Unlike conventional MRI machines, the ESAOTE system is designed around the patient not the machine. It allows weight-bearing scanning in natural positions, which means your spine, knees, and ankles can be imaged under the load of everyday life revealing problems that lying-down scans often miss entirely.
Why Patients Choose the Open Upright MRI at Droitwich Knee Clinic
No tunnel — no claustrophobia
The open design means you are never enclosed. You can see your surroundings and remain calm throughout.
Weight-bearing positions
Scan in sitting or standing positions revealing how your spine, knees, and ankles behave under real-life load.
More accurate diagnosis
Many spinal and joint problems only appear under load. Weight-bearing MRI detects what lying-down scans can miss.
Patient-centred experience
No rushing, no pressure. Staff remain nearby. You can communicate at any time and stop if needed.
Calmer and quieter
The open scanner is significantly quieter than a traditional MRI, reducing stress and anxiety during the scan.
Lying and standing comparison
Both lying and weight-bearing scans can be performed allowing direct comparison for more complete diagnosis.
Who Is the Open Upright MRI Most Suitable For?
😰 Claustrophobic patients
Patients who have previously been unable to complete a conventional MRI due to anxiety or claustrophobia.
🦴 Spinal condition patients
Patients with back or neck pain that is worse when upright where weight-bearing imaging provides critical diagnostic information.
🦵 Knee and ankle problems
Conditions such as knee pain, instability, or ankle problems that are more symptomatic when standing and weight-bearing.
🏋️ Larger patients
Patients who find the narrow bore of a conventional MRI uncomfortable or unsuitable due to body size.
👴 Elderly or anxious patients
Older patients or those with general health anxiety who benefit from a calmer, more comfortable scanning environment.
🔧 Patients with some implants
Some patients with implants unsuitable for conventional MRI may be able to have an open MRI discuss with your specialist.
Designed Around You — Not the Machine
The ESAOTE Open MRI at Droitwich Knee Clinic is a completely different experience to a conventional MRI, specifically designed for patients with real concerns and real lives. No tunnel. No panic. No compromise on image quality.
Clarity Without the Stress
Getting the right diagnosis shouldn’t come at the cost of your comfort. With Weight Bearing MRI:
Doctors see how joints behave under real conditions
Subtle problems become visible
Treatment decisions become clearer
Feel Safe. Feel Seen. Feel in Control
From the moment you arrive, everything is designed to reduce anxiety and build trust:
Friendly, experienced team
Clear explanations before your scan
Continuous communication throughout
You remain in control at all times
What to Expect During Your Open MRI Scan
Arrival and preparation
Arrive at the clinic. Remove metal jewellery. Inform staff of any implants or pacemakers. Change into comfortable loose clothing if needed no special preparation required beforehand.
Positioning in the open scanner
You are positioned in the open ESAOTE scanner either standing, sitting, or lying down depending on the area being examined. There is no enclosed tunnel at any point.
Scanning begins
You can see your surroundings throughout. Staff remain nearby. You can communicate at any time. Weight-bearing and lying positions may both be captured for direct comparison a unique advantage of this system.
Scan complete
The scan takes approximately 45 minutes total. You are free to move between position changes. The process is calm, quiet, and significantly more comfortable than conventional MRI.
Results and treatment plan
Scan images are reviewed by your specialist at Droitwich Knee Clinic. Findings and the recommended treatment plan are discussed at your follow-up appointment.
Book Your Open MRI Today
- No claustrophobic tunnel
- Comfortable scanning positions
- Accurate, real-life diagnosis
- Patient-first experience
OUR SERVICES
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The ESAOTE Open MRI is ideal for claustrophobic patients because there is no enclosed tunnel. The open design allows you to see your surroundings, stay relaxed, and feel in control throughout. Many patients who previously could not tolerate a conventional MRI complete the open MRI comfortably.
Yes. The ESAOTE Open MRI allows scanning in standing (weight-bearing) positions for lumbar spine, knees, and ankles, as well as in a relaxed lying position. Both positions can be captured for direct comparison providing information that lying-only scans cannot.
Upright MRI can detect lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, knee ligament and meniscus injuries, shoulder conditions, ankle injuries, hip problems, and soft tissue masses. Weight-bearing scanning is especially useful for spinal and lower limb conditions that are only visible under load.
Yes. Upright MRI provides highly accurate diagnostic images, and in some cases can even show issues more clearly because it captures the body in natural, weight-bearing positions.
Most Open MRI scans take around 45 minutes depending on the area being examined and the type of assessment required.
You can book an upright MRI appointment through the clinic’s website or contact the clinic directly to schedule your scan at the nearest available location.