The doctors at Berlin’s Charité Hospital created a special “open” MRI scanner (most are tube shaped) to give the necessary room for the mother to do her work. The birth went swimmingly and ...

With a 29.5-inch opening, the new MRI scanner not only eases claustrophobia fears, but also accommodates patients up to 550 pounds (compared to 400 pounds with other open MRI scanners).

The new MRI scanner also can be used on patients with implants or devices, whereas the old, open-sided machine could not. They plan to have it up and running by September 1.