Experimental verification of non-standard phantom simulations: applications for orthopedic device heating

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe and effective tool for imaging patients without implanted medical devices. However, implants can negatively interact with MRI scanners, which sometimes earns the patient a ban on MRI because their implant is deemed unsafe. Orthopedic implants (e.g., plates, screws, and nails) often heat up during MRI, so they must be tested to determine if they heat too much or if the patient can be safely scanned. The current testing method is very simplistic, leading some orthopedics to heat a little more than acceptable, so new testing methods are needed to address the current oversimplifications. This project aims to develop simulated and experimental tools for more realistic testing materials (e.g., bone mimic) and for blood flow cooling of implant heating. These tools will be utilized during implant safety testing by MRIdt, increasing the proportion of orthopedics that were previously ‘unsafe’ but can now be safely scanned.

Faculty Supervisor:

Alexei Ouriadov

Student:

Partner:

MRIdt

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: