The Medical world has evolved in recent times. There were times in history (a very long time ago though) when doctors would cut patients open, unsure if anything was wrong and only to discover that nothing was damaged. Those times when doctors will speculate opening up your stomach to see what was wrong just because you’ve complained severally of pains in the stomach.
I can’t think of anything scarier than having your guts opened up, just because you overate high fibre food and couldn’t stay off the toilet seat. But in the late 1980s, the MRI machine was invented.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to view images deep inside the human body using radio waves and magnetic fields to give medical personnel a more precise picture and view of the body organs.
So much time was spent perfecting MRI machines that they forgot one important thing; it was made so big and tall that it was practically tricky getting into them without needing help….and with that problem comes the solution in the form of a Step stool.
Without step stools, patients will find it impossible to get into MRI machines making them an essential part. MRI step stools come in all shapes and sizes, all to give the patients going into these machines as much comfort and ease as possible which is why most patients love these stools even more than they enjoy the MRI machines.
With more than 25,000 MRI machines and scanners being used in various hospitals worldwide, each device has at least 2 Step tools by its sides to care for the comfort and ease of patients. This means there are more than 50,000 of these stools worldwide, making them a piece of essential medical equipment in hospitals and laboratories.
These stools come in specific shapes, sizes and specifications to cater to the different needs of patients. Some are in the form of little ladders, others flat and low while some uses double steps.
Did I mention that MRI machines use magnetic waves? Yes, it does! Which is why metals are to be placed far away from it to avoid medical hazards and human-made injuries. Therefore, the metals used in the making of Step stools are coated with non-magnetic materials, which is why they can be placed so close to the MRI machines.
In recent years, step stools are made from pure metals, and the devices must be switched off and restarted each time a patient needs to ascend and descend with the use of ottomans. This, of course, is time-consuming and prompted the production of the new Non-Magnetic MRI step tools which is already in high demand worldwide.
There are many reasons why the new stools are in high demand, but these are just five of them;
WEIGHT
This factor considers both the weight of the patient and that of the step stool itself. It is strong enough to withstand the weight of the patient that might need this stool to mount the machine. So it doesn’t matter whether a patient is obese or tiny; the patient can comfortably step on the seat with no fear of breakage. Keep also in mind that this step stool is so light that even a 5-year old can lift it.
HEIGHT
The stools are made with double steps depending on the patient’s height. Children and short people can easily access the MRI machines just by stepping unto the second step. Now hospitals don’t have to use two different step stools for children and adults as a single stool can be used for both tall and short patients.
NON-MAGNETISM
We’ve already established how magnetic metals are dangerous to be placed carelessly close to MRI machines, so Non-Magnetic step stools are the most preferred by patients and doctors alike. Patients can rest easy in the machines knowing that these stools pose no threat to the imaging procedure, and they are safe from magnetic harms.
PATIENTS’ HEALTH
It is also safe to note that some MRI patients can be weak health-wise and can’t just help it but to need these steps. These step tools are thus made strategically low enough so those frail patients won’t need to exert themselves much while using them.
HANDLES
The step tools now come with handles for proper balance so patients can have something to hold onto to avoid falling off while mounting the stools.
Conclusively, MRI machines are one of the essential modern medical inventions, but it would be difficult to use without Step stools. We can say MRI step stools are just as important as the machine itself. With the Non-Magnetic ones, we can rightly say that comfort and safety have been rolled into one entity.