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<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=3><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>SEATTLE
POST-INTELLIGENCER<BR></FONT></STRONG><A
href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/207390_mri11.html">http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/207390_mri11.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=3><BR><BR></FONT><FONT size=5><FONT
face=Arial,Helvetica><B>Floor buffer pulled into MRI machine's
magnets</B></FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica size=2><B>$200,000 damage at hospital, KIRO
says</B></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica size=2><I>Tuesday, January 11, 2005</I></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica size=2><B>THE ASSOCIATED PRESS</B></FONT></P>
<P>An expensive MRI machine at Virginia Mason Medical Center sustained at least
$200,000 in damage when a metal floor buffer was mistakenly placed nearby and
was <FONT color=#ff0000 size=6><STRONG>sucked</STRONG></FONT> in by the
machine's powerful magnets, a television station reported.</P>
<P>The accident happened Jan. 3 when a member of the housekeeping staff
improperly took the buffer near the machine, despite a warning sign not to use
metal objects near it, KIRO/7 reported last night.</P>
<P>Virginia Mason spokesmen did not respond to repeated requests for comment
left last night with hospital switchboard operators.</P>
<P>MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machines are sophisticated diagnostic tools
used to provide detailed pictures of the body's interior.</P>
<P>The magnets used are so powerful it is not uncommon to hear of large pieces
of equipment being pulled into the machines.</P>
<P><FONT color=#ff0000 size=6><STRONG>The hospital plans some staff
retraining</STRONG></FONT>, KIRO reported.</P>
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