LEGO MRI Scanners Set Aims To Quell Young Children’s Anxiety With Going Through MRI

No surprise if someone is nervous about going through an MRI scan. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a medical imaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields to “see” what X-rays can’t. It also has better contrast in images of soft tissues when compared to CT scans. As beneficial as it is, an MRI scanner is an imposing piece of equipment that may intimidate some – yours truly included.

The first time I was in the MRI, I was nervous. Like, super nervous. It was claustrophobic, took a long time to scan, and man, the loud humming really drives up the anxiety level through the roof. It did not help that I heard of many horror stories of patients with metal objects. If an MRI scanner can do that to a grown person, imagine how kids will react to it.

With this in mind, LEGO has created a LEGO MRI Scanners kit which the toymaker will donate to hospitals around the world to help children cope with the uncertainly of having an MRI scan.

Through the accurate representation of the medical equipment in LEGO form, the set hopes to let the child acquaint with the machine through play and perhaps instill them with confidence that he or she could go through the scan when the time comes for him or her to do so. Apparently, anesthesia has to be used up until now.

Nearly 100 hospitals from around the world have already benefited from the LEGO MRI Scanner set. LEGO is scaling up and offering 600 models to the first 600 eligible applicants. Radiology departments worldwide with existing MRI scanning facilities for use with children and adolescents are encouraged to apply. More information can be found HERE.