MRI Safety for Pacemakers Defibrillators and Neurostimulators

Every year, some 30 million patients worldwide undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. In many cases these exams provide essential, life-saving information. But patients with implanted devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and neurostimulators, are denied the benefits of MRI due to the risks posed by their implants. Implanted leads (wire-like devices) and other metallic devices, acting as antennas, absorb radio frequency energy from an MRI machine. This can cause the leads to heat up and generate induced voltages, which is why these devices are currently contraindicated for use with MRI; patients with these implants are not permitted to have MRI procedures performed.

The heat can cause serious damage to tissue and the induced voltages, for example in the case of pacemakers, can cause irregular or rapid cardiac pacing -- even death. The voltages can also cause erroneous readings with medical electronics. As a result, about 300,000 people a year with implants are deprived of the benefits of an MRI examination. Or worse, in some cases, hospital staff is unaware of implants, and unwittingly subject patients to these risks.

Biophan Technologies has developed patented technologies that are intended to ensure the safety of medical devices used in conjunction with MRI by reducing heating and induced voltages to acceptable levels. Since different devices have different design requirements, Biophan has developed a wide range of innovative solutions that can be adapted to implants that have been contraindicated for use with MRI. These include four key technologies: discrete resonant circuits, lead wire winding, low pass filters, and wire looping.