# Philips Scan Buddy — Preparing kids for MRI exam

> Interactive app to prepare children for MRI exams using games and education. (iPhone/iPad app by Philips Electronics North America Corporation.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philips-scan-buddy/id1633232616 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Philips Electronics North America Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/479329238)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 217 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2022-07-12
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philips-scan-buddy/id1633232616/reviews.md

## What is Philips Scan Buddy?

Note: The Scan Buddy App is part of the Pediatric Coaching solution and a code is provided by your healthcare provider to guide you through the upcoming examination.

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) examination can provide a wealth of information to your child’s paediatrician. 
But for children, undergoing an MRI exam can be a stressful experience. Tapping into the wonderment of this new experience, the Scan Buddy App engages your child on his/her level with an easy-to-enjoy cartoon world of Scan Buddies, so you and your child can undergo the MRI exam with confidence, distracted from fears. It will help your child to feel more in control. 

The Scan Buddy App is developed following the Familiarize, Inform, and Train (FIT) framework and consists of 4 modules. The intro movie gives an overview of the procedures, steps, spaces, and people that the child will encounter. The MRI scanner is introduced in a non-threatening way, which explains why metal items are not allowed, and the child gets familiarized with the strange MRI sounds during the scan. 
In the MRI game, the child gets to help one of the Scan Buddies (Ollie) with her MRI scan. The game starts with the child having to remove the metal items from Ollie. And when Ollie is on the MRI table, the child gets to identify the right equipment for the scan such as earplugs, headphones, and head coil. When the table with Ollie slides into the MRI scanner, the child has to keep the phone or tablet still to help Ollie lie still during her scan. 
While kids practice lying still or holding still, they are again exposed to MRI sounds. The Augmented Reality game helps the child explore what an MRI scanner looks like. A sticker hunt game engages the child to walk around the MRI scanner and find stickers, which unlock educational material to further de-mystify the machine and process. 
The adult information module has an educational and a practising skills section providing general information and suggestions about MRI scans to parents and caregivers. 
In case you face any problems with the app ,kindly reach us on helpdesk.ae@philips.com.

## Key features

- Interactive cartoon world
- Familiarize, Inform, Train (FIT) framework
- Introductory movie
- MRI game simulation
- Augmented Reality scanner exploration
- Sticker hunt game
- Parental information module


## Frequently asked questions about Philips Scan Buddy

### What is Philips Scan Buddy?

Philips Scan Buddy is an educational app designed to help children prepare for MRI examinations. It uses games and interactive content to familiarize them with the process and reduce anxiety.

### How does Philips Scan Buddy prepare children for an MRI?

The app follows a Familiarize, Inform, and Train (FIT) framework. It includes an intro movie, an MRI game where children help a character, and augmented reality to explore the scanner.

### Is Philips Scan Buddy free to use?

Yes, Philips Scan Buddy is available for free. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements.

### What age is Philips Scan Buddy suitable for?

Philips Scan Buddy is suitable for children aged 4 and above, as indicated by its age rating.

### What devices can I use Philips Scan Buddy on?

Philips Scan Buddy is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

### How often is Philips Scan Buddy updated?

The latest version of Philips Scan Buddy is 1.0.8, and it was last updated on October 31, 2025. Updates typically occur to improve features and fix bugs.

### Does Philips Scan Buddy require a code?

Yes, the app is part of a Pediatric Coaching solution and requires a code provided by your healthcare provider to access the full guidance for the examination.

### What kind of educational material does Philips Scan Buddy offer parents?

The adult information module provides general information and practical skill suggestions for parents and caregivers regarding MRI scans, helping them support their child.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.8 — 2025-10-31

This release contains fixes to improve the performance and user experience of the Scanbuddy app, as well as optimization for battery usage.

### 1.0.7 — 2024-11-06

Added 10 new languages.
Improved support for iOS Version 17 & 18.
Improved stability and graphics quality.
Augmented Reality placement will now adjust its size based on the surface area.

### 1.0.4 — 2022-11-21

Improved support for iOS Version 16.

### 1.0.3 — 2022-09-08

Several bugs fixes.

### 1.0 — 2022-07-13

No release notes.

## Apps similar to Philips Scan Buddy

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [AR Siemens Healthineers](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-siemens-healthineers/id1472152296) | 3.0 (2) | Free | Education |
| [Marcus Books](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marcus-books/id6446440512) | — | Free | Education |
| [X-ray Scatter Sim](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-ray-scatter-sim/id6463718894) | — | Free | Education |
| [NYSORA MSK US Knee](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nysora-msk-us-knee/id1578712361) | 5.0 (6) | Free | Education |
| [MRI Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mri-pro/id6472557403) | 4.7 (26) | Free | Education |
| [UMN TTE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/umn-tte/id6450794725) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Education |

## More apps by Philips Electronics North America Corporation

- [IntelliSpace VL Capture](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intellispace-vl-capture/id917454985)
- [Philips Coronary IVUS Tutor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philips-coronary-ivus-tutor/id1102922767)
- [Philips Venous IVUS Tutor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philips-venous-ivus-tutor/id1148155701)
- [Philips IntelliSite Pathology](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philips-intellisite-pathology/id1281883003)
- [Philips Care Assist](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philips-care-assist/id1441008075)
- [Philips IntelliSpace Cognition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/philips-intellispace-cognition/id1455204200)

All apps by Philips Electronics North America Corporation: https://appshunter.io/developer/479329238

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*