Hospitals Use LEGO MRI Scanners To Reduce Anxiety In Young Patients

Having to undergo an MRI scan can be very daunting, especially for those who are claustrophobic. It can be even more scary for kids who don’t understand how MRI’s work.

In 2015, LEGO employee Erik Eullerlund Staehr came up with a great idea to help young patients cope with the intimidating process of having an MRI scan and to understand how the MRI works.

The 500-piece lego set is a miniature replica of an MRI scan equipped with little LEGO nurses and patients. The LEGO Foundation has also developed training videos to go along with the model that hospital staff can use to guide kids through the process to help them better visualize what they are about to go through.

The LEGO Foundation has already donated hundreds of these kits to hospitals all over the world, and has recently donated another 600.

It has seen a very positive result, helping kids feel more relaxed and turning a stressful situation into a playful one. It has even helped reduce the need for anesthesia, since it lessens stress and anxiety.

“MRI Scanners are huge machines,” said Ulla Jensen from the Department of Radiology. “They also make a lot of noise which can be very daunting for children. Our team have found that use of models such as the LEGO model has led to more positive, calm experiences for many children. This benefits the child, their family and also the quality of the MRI scan, which relies on the person being very still for up to an hour to work.”

The LEGO kits have already helped 200 children from the ages of 4 to 9 each year.

The LEGO Foundation hopes to donate many more kits in the future to be able to help thousands more kids all over the world.

Learn more in the video below: