mri

[Guest guest]

Hello Mike,

Now for a stimulator yes, I do recall seeing that an MRI was not a

good idea. However when someone has a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (which is

what I have for my epilepsy), the MRI exam can be performed. I was

reading the manufacture Cyberonics web site and here is what the

company is stating -

9.4.4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging

If you plan to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), make sure your

doctor has the following information:

! Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should not be performed with a

magnetic resonance body coil in the

transmit mode. The heat induced in the Lead by an MRI body scan can

cause injury.

If an MRI should be done, use only a transmit and receive type of head

coil. Magnetic and radiofrequency (RF) fields

produced by MRI may change the Pulse Generator settings (change to

reset parameters) or activate the device.

Stimulation has been shown to cause the adverse events reported in the

" Adverse Events " section of this manual.

MRI compatibility was demonstrated using a 1.5T General Electric Signa

Imager and Model 100 Pulse Generator only.

Testing on this imager as performed on a phantom indicated that the

following Pulse Generator and MRI settings can be

used safely without adverse events:

¨ Pulse Generator output programmed to 0 mA for the MRI procedure,

and afterward, retested by performing the

Lead Test diagnostics and reprogrammed to the original settings

¨ Head coil type: transmit and receive only

¨ Static magnetic field strength: £ 2.0 tesla

¨ Specific-rate absorption (SAR): < 1.3 W/kg for a 70-kg

(154.5-lb) patient

¨ Time-varying intensity: < 10 tesla/sec

Use caution when other MRI systems are used, since adverse

events may occur because of different magnetic field distributions.

! No scan in which the radiofrequency (RF) is transmitted by the body

coil should be done on a patient who has

the VNS Therapy System. Thus, protocols must not be used which utilize

local coils that are RF-receive only,

with RF-transmit performed by the body coil. Note that some RF head

coils are receive only, and that most other

local coils, such as knee and spinal coils, are also RF receive only.

These coils must not be used in patients

with the VNS Therapy System.

Courtesy of www.cyberonics.com

SueLynn