MRI Shielding for Patients with Implanted Devices

The technology was exhibited at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, IL (USA).

In tests, conducted in a 1.5 Tesla MRI system, the shielding prevented most of the RF energy emitted by the MRI system from reaching the shielded samples, which were coated wafers and metal rods. RF energy from MRI is known to be the cause of dangerously high tissue heating and other performance problems in electronic medical devices used in the body, such as implantable pacemakers, cardioverter-defibrillators, and neurostimulators, as well as guidewires and catheters. A contraindication by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for many of these devices makes it very difficult for patients with the devices to obtain an MRI exam.

The new technology uses thin-film nanomagnetic and carbon composite coatings and novel shield designs, which can be used individually or together to meet the specific shielding requirements of a range of medical devices. The next tests will be performed on coated pacemaker leads in a saline solution phantom to approximate the effects of a human body in an MRI coil. The shielding was developed by Biophan Technologies (Rochester, NY, USA).

"The ability of manufacturers of pacemakers and other devices to apply the Biophan technologies with minimal disruption to existing products and their manufacturing processes could also significantly reduce time to market and capital requirements,” said Michael Weiner, CEO of Biophan.




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