Table of Contents

Dr. Jaane Rauschenberg

During MRI procedures several safety aspects must be taken into account. Potential hazards can occur due to:

Static magnetic field
•  Missile effects on ferromagnetic material
•  Displacement or torsion of medical implants
•  Disturbance of electrical instruments
•  Vertigo, dizziness, magnetophosphenes, metallic taste due to movements in the stray field

Gradient fields
•  Peripheral nerve stimulations
•  Eddy current related effects

Radiofreqency pulses
•  Extended specific absorption rate (SAR)
•  Heating along medical implants

The main topic of the project group “Safety aspects” is the study of neurobehavioral effects of the exposure to static magnetic fields. The project is generated in cooperation with the central institute of mental health in Mannheim and was initialized by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS). For further information about the project click here.

Furthermore, we perform measurements to clarify whether or not a medical implant (stents, catheters, clips, etc.) can be considered as MR safe. Therefore, the following check list must be fulfilled:
•  Check missile effect: attraction on the MR magnet?
•  Check torsion: displacement of the implant?
•  Check RF induced heating: does the surrounding tissue exceed a heat up of 1°C?

If a medical implant can be considered as MR safe we check the size of possible image artefacts. A MR compatible device is MR safe and has been demonstrated to do not significantly affect the diagnostic information.
Figure 1 shows a liaison of monitor and MR system before and after MR compatibility modifications.

Figure 1: monitor a) before and b) after MR compatibility changes. | © dkfz.de

Projects members

J. Gröbner
Dr. J. Rauschenberg (contact)