What is an eye pillow? Our M·R Eye Pillow™ is a 4 x 8-inch “pillow” filled with food-grade flaxseed—small, satiny seeds which give the pillow a soothing, liquid-like feel. Introduced to the general public as a relaxation and stress relief tool in 1989 by our predecessor, H2B Company, the eye pillow is used for resting, napping, falling asleep, and meditating—the perfect kind of relaxation aid for MR patients.
How does it work? The eye pillow—laid comfortably over the eyes—not only blocks all light more effectively than most eye masks or simple blindfolds, but its gentle weight soothes the muscles and acupressure points around the eyes. This combination of light blockage and calming weight effectively elicits a relaxation response, helping patients overcome the anxiety and nervousness often brought on by the MR imaging procedure.
Does it interfere with MR scans? After conducting independent tests of eye pillows of the kind made by the Medical Relaxation Institute’s predecessor, H2B Company, Dr. Emanuel Kanal, MD, FACR, Director of Magnetic Resonance Services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, noted: “While the eye pillows were visible on each of the sequences (although only with difficulty on some of the gradient echo imaging sequences), they did not in any detectable way hinder the interpretation of the image or produce any artifactual signal distortion of the adjacent signal. We also imaged some of these pillows on patients and similarly found no distortion or signal disruption to the adjacent patient/tissue anatomy or signal.” He concluded: "I would not hesitate to permit these eye pillows into the bore of my 1.5 Tesla (or lower) MR imaging systems during patient imaging, and find no reason to suspect that the eye pillows that I tested present any patient magnetic resonance imaging safety or image interpretation issue whatsoever.”
(Details of test parameters available upon request. No compensation was exchanged
for
Dr.
Kanal’s testing and opinion. To contact Dr. Kanal, write him at ekanal@pitt.edu.)
How can the eye pillow benefit an MR facility? An eye pillow can help calm the patient, preventing the extra expense of delayed or failed scans caused by patient restlessness. Useful for putting almost any patient at ease, the eye pillow is especially helpful to those suffering from claustrophobia or procedure anxiety. For such patients, the eye pillow often avoids the need for sedation.
An eye pillow also serves as a unique promotional gift for patients (or referring physicians), building a facility’s reputation for patient-friendly service in an increasingly competitive environment. For more cost/benefit suggestions, please click here.
How can the pillow be customized? We can customize the eye pillow for you several ways:
Custom label sewn into the pillow printed with your facility’s name, logo, phone number, etc. This is an effective way to identify your facility or company at a very reasonable cost. One ink color on a black or white label stock is the standard. Two or more ink colors are available but add somewhat to the cost. We put together the layout of your label design at no charge and can incorporate almost any logo or special graphics you care to provide.
Special fabric colors that closely match your facility logo or graphics can also be specified. The top or front side of the eye pillow is made with solid colored fabrics that are available in a range of colors, one of which will most likely provide a good match to the color associated with your center or graphics. (We recommend that the back or bottom side of the eye pillow—the side that goes against the eyes—be black for practicality and maximum light blockage.)
Volume pricing makes cost very reasonable. Please inquire
about our Quantity/Custom Eye Pillows for MRI Facilities.
How are the eye pillows delivered? There are two general ways we can provide your eye pillows (see illustrations above):
Bulk (no packaging). The eye pillows are carefully packed in poly-lined cartons for protection in transit and while in your inventory. Use & care instructions leaflets are provided in bulk. This is the most economical way for us to provide your eye pillows.
Packaged in crystal-clear poly wrappers. An economical yet attractive option for those who prefer that each eye pillow be individually packaged. The eye pillow and use & care instruction insert are protected by a clear, re-sealable poly wrapper, reinforced with a chipboard stiffener. What does the eye pillow cost? We offer the M·R Eye Pillow™ in a number of fabric types and configurations at wholesale prices, with lower prices at higher quantities. To request our general price list for introductory orders, click here. For our quantity and custom pricing, please inquire. The modest cost of eye pillows quickly pays dividends in easier patient management, fewer failed scans, increased referrals and customer loyalty. |
