External fixation and braces are typically very carefully screened for contraindication for MRI examination, but what may not be as frequently screened is the clothing underneath. We’ve received a report of a patient who received a burn from the specialty T-shirt, worn under their brace! The T-shirt, which included electrically-conductive silver fibers, purportedly acted as an RF antennae and produced focal heating.

This incident, like so many others, goes to show how so many risks in the MRI environment, such as concealed ferromagnetic threats, can be difficult to find if you don’t have the proper tools and knowledge with which to look for them.

Every MRI provider should avail themselves of the latest MRI safety information, standards, recommendations and peer accounts of accidents and near-misses in order to deploy the greatest protections, both for their patients and for their own risk management. For burn risks, this means diligent screening of everything that accompanies the patient into the bore. For ferromagnetic (projectile) risks, this includes the use of ferromagnetic detection systems.

Click here for Tobias’ Twitter Profile

One of the most effective means of screening for external ferromagnetic materials, particularly those that may be integrated with non-ferromagnetic MR Conditional objects or devices, is through the use of a ferromagnetic only detection system.

Halo vests are just one of huge number of potential ferromagnetic threats which endanger MRI patients, visitors and staff. Effective pre-screening for these risks should include the appropriate use of ferromagnetic detection systems, and this is more than my personal opinion.

To date, the ACR, JCAHO, the Department of Veterans Affairs and many MRI safety experts have called for the use of ferromagnetic screening to help mitigate just this sort of hazard.

Halo vests are just one of the innumerable objects that can pose grave threats to patients, staff, and MRI equipment if brought within the MRI scanner room. To protect people and scanner up-time, ferromagnetic detection is a wise investment.

]]> http://mrimetaldetector.com/blog/2009/12/rsna-aapm-identify-halo-ferromagnetic-risks/feed/ 2