Patent ID: 8473027

Claim:
A method for reducing contact between a patient and a portion of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus, the MRI apparatus including a patient interface surface and an aperture extending through the patient interface surface, the method comprising: positioning a barrier over at least a portion of the patient interface surface, the barrier comprising an opening; arranging a periphery of the barrier to encompass a periphery of the patient interface surface; securing the barrier to the MRI apparatus; locating the opening over the aperture of the MRI apparatus; inserting a patient breast through the barrier opening and into the aperture of the MRI apparatus; and manipulating a plurality of flaps of the barrier surrounding the opening to be within the aperture of the MRI apparatus and adjacent a sidewall and/or coil of the MRI apparatus, wherein the plurality of flaps are interposed between a) the patient breast, and b) the sidewall and/or coil of the MRI apparatus, and wherein at least a portion of the manipulating step occurs via the inserting step.