Title: RF-induced heating effects of metallic biomaterial designs at 1.5T MRI exposure

Authors: Gulsen Akdogan; O. Burak Istanbullu

Addresses: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

Abstract: This study analyses the performance of implantable bio-metals in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conditions to ensure that patients with MRI-conditional implants are not precluded from MRI applications. 316L, 316LVM, Ti-alloy, and CoCrMo-alloy specimens in different geometries were placed in a phantom that imitates the thermal/electrical features of human anatomy. The phantom was scanned in a 1.5T-MRI using 'axial-T₁-gradient-echo', 'sagittal-T₁-gradient-echo', 'axial-T₂-spin-echo' and 'sagittal-T₂-spin-echo' imaging sequences. The specimens were examined regarding radiofrequency (RF) induced heating using a 2-channel-fiber-optical-temperature-transmitter and magnetic deflection/torque formation. 316LVM specimens that are not allowed to be in the MRI environment were found to be acceptable in the 1.5T-MRI environment since there was no magnetic deflection and RF-induced overheating. Ti-alloy specimens were found harmless under the same conditions. 316L and CoCrMo-alloy specimens were considered hazardous due to the magnetic deflection formation. This study demonstrates that bio-metals which were not allowed to be in MRI devices such as 316LVM are not harmful to patients in 1.5T MRI.

Keywords: biomaterials; material design and analysis; RF-induced heating; magnetic resonance imaging; MRI; thermal properties; material characterisation; safety and hazards.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2023.130843

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2023 Vol.41 No.4, pp.376 - 393

Received: 01 Mar 2022
Received in revised form: 18 Nov 2022
Accepted: 27 Dec 2022
Published online: 12 May 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article