Safety Considerations in MRI - Research Proposal Example

? SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN MRI Aim of the project Magnetic resonance imaging, as defined in various articles is a safe modality because; unlike X-ray systems, in MRI the ionizing radiation is nonexistent (not used). Experts agree that MRI is an intensively powerful tool of imaging that does not necessary subject people to iodizing radiation. Nevertheless, some challenges and risks associated with magnetic resonance environment that people must know and eliminate exist. The paper seeks to outline the commonly known safety issues associated with MRI, (Gilk& American Society for Healthcare Engineering, 2008). Objectives There has been increased awareness about the electromagnetic field safety that has been mainly because of European Physical Directive Agents on exposure to electronic magnetic fields, and the environmental health strategy report by WHO task force on environmental magnetic fields, (Brown& Semelka, 2010). Similarly, in the magnetic resonance imaging society, issues concerning the MRI safety have intensified over the recent past as revealed by previous researches. These issues concern the increasing percentage of installed magnetic resonance imaging scanners, the trends concerning increased primary magnetic field intensities and the extension of the magnetic resonance imaging applications. Therefore, the investigation should be carried out to determine safety considerations in MRI system. The research will outline the risks and safety issues related to big static MF and their interactions with both tissues of patients and equipments used, (Medical Devices Agency, 1998). Justification The project seeks to investigate risk and safety issues associated with MRI, establish safety issues to be considered in MRI and establish effects of MRI on human tissues and environment. MRI is considered a safe modality because ionizing radiations are not used. The possible advantages of magnetic resonance imaging are many; however, various risks are intrinsic to magnetic resonance environment and should be realized and eliminated. These risks are connected to specific or ac combination of3 key system components. These include the strong magnetic field such as MRI’s spatial gradient, the pulsed MF, and radiofrequency field, (Hendrick, 2008). Literature reveals that in a well functioning healthcare system, the challenges or safety issues concerned with direct interactions with the fields and the body is minimal. Therefore, the interactions of ferromagnetic tools, conductors as well as medical objects in these magnetic fields, with these fields cause safety issues, (Dempsey, Condon & Hadley, 2002). The risk related to big static magnetic field is the interaction with patient tissues and equipments. In the event of increased magnetic fields, security concerns to be analyzed are mechanical and physical effects as well as their consequent issues of exposure. The magnets involved in clinical magnetic resonance imaging vary in intensity from 0.2 T to 3 T. To attain such field intensities superconducting magnets are utilized, although, resistive and permanent magnets are similarly used in certain designs. Some of the magnetic resonance systems are made with horizontal MF produced by a cylindrical magnet. Therefore, fixed field remains equivalent to patients’ long axis, (De, Grainger, Price & Renaud, 2007). Other magnetic resonance imaging tools use a transverse FM and static MF is usual to the patient’s long axis. Therefore, the magnetic field that a patient experiences is mainly restricted to the magnet intensity, (Brown & Semelka, 2010). Nevertheless, in some designs of magnet, there may be external and internal locations of the magnet bore, which are higher over the field strength operation. Therefore, the environmental exposure and the patient remain the main safety issues to be considered. This is because patient’s exposure to static field in magnetic resonance imaging affects the safety of patients, (In Kamel&Merkle, 2011). Sustaining a safe magnetic resonance environment is the main constraint for magnetic resonance unit staff. The biochemical implants and forms of devices used are mainly poorly documented and intensify on every week, (De, Grainger, Price & Renaud, 2007). To maintain and ensure safe environment, magnetic resonance staffs should consider and make sure that advanced and current object knowledge is maintained. Establishing an adequate and efficient pre-magnetic resonance imaging process policy of screening is another crucial safety consideration to be ensured before patients enter the Magnetic resonance environment. Ferromagnetic implant is one of the key safety issues to people undergoing MRI. Similarly, the possible magnetic triggered movement may cause adverse effects on individuals with medical equipments, implants or alien particles. Several aspects influence the threat of magnetic resonance performance for people with ferromagnetic equipment or devices such as static and gradient MF strengths, the relative ferromagnetism degree of the object, the position and object orientation in the environment and the duration of the object in the area. For instance, if the foreign body or object is positioned next to critical softy tissues - such as vascular and neural – whereby the dislodgment could cause mortality, the processes of magnetic resonance must be avoided, (Dempsey, Condon & Hadley, 2002). Implanted medical materials that have conductive ends may cause RF burns. For instance, in case of pregnant people RF burns can occur because increased conducive fluid volumes encircle the fetus and because of its sensitivity to increased temperatures. In extremities, RF deposition of power may cause burns. Similarly, burns related to increased scan SAR and similar contributory aspect, which acts to accelerate the triggered currents and cause adverse increases in temperature, (Rinck, 1993). The use of MRI devices mainly increases the PNS possibility because the stimulation for cardiac is increasingly higher. Lorenz forces are equivalent to the flowing current via the coils and the key MF strength. Together with direct gradient coil vibration, noise is triggered through the electromagnet in different scanner parts via GMF leakage leading to eddy currents systems conducting ends. Such induced currents cause increase of Lorentz forces, noise, and vibrating aspects, (Westbrook, 2008). Evidence reveals that increased safety degree with static field as well as some considerable impacts can be due to certain value of magnetic vulnerability of patient tissues and inadequate ferromagnetic composition of such tissues, (Brown & Semelka, 2010). The commonly documented impact of MF interaction with patient’s tissues is mainly linked to dislodgement in the static field. For instance, when a charge is travelling in a magnetic object, the charge will experience a perpendicular force to its velocity direction and the MF, called the Lorentz force. Therefore, breathing rate, displacements of cardiac and blood flow or fluid flow within the human body can trigger body voltages via the Lorentz effect, (Joyce, 2008). The static MF on some elements may lead to malfunction or total failure of the element. Consequently, this can influence the medical device accuracy thus, compromising the safety of the patient. Magnetic fields also affect certain magnetically, mechanically, and electrically activated devices functions. Some cases entail certain pumps of drug infusion and cardiac pacemakers, (Medical Devices Agency, 1998). Some organizations and nations such as MHRA and the United Kingdom recommend against MRI use, arguing that some standard metal detectors predict various metal forms and thus their utilization could cause increased false-alarms numbers. These detectors cannot sense minute ferromagnetic objects, which may lead to injury, therefore, their utilizations offers false security detection. However, certain ferromagnetic senses have modernly been created and are effective in sensing increasingly minute ferromagnetic materials. Therefore, if their success is repeated, devices function as expected and are put in the right sensitivity; the ferromagnetic systems of detection could achieve its benefit in MRI units, (Brown & Semelka, 2010). Method The research will survey method. Various surveys of different databases will be conducted, for instance, MHRA database. This method integrates statistics and social sciences in which, individuals are selected to represent a population. These will help a great deal in obtaining substantial information, which will be used in making evaluation, conclusion as well as recommendations. Equipments There are two main sources of information in the execution of any research namely primary and secondary sources. Primary source entails collection of information from individuals such as the case of the use of questionnaires. These sources provide first-hand information, which is subjected to minimal or no alterations. On the other hand, secondary sources of information entails use of already presented information available on websites, books and journals among others. In this research, both primary and secondary sources will be used. Secondary sources of information such as online sources, databases and books will be used. References Brown, M. A.,& Semelka, R. C. (2010). MRI: Basic principles and applications. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley-Blackwell/John Wiley & Sons. Dempsey, M. F., Condon, B., & Hadley, D. M. (January 01, 2002). MRI safety review. Seminars in Ultrasound, Ct, and Mri, 23, 5, 392-401. De, W. J. P., Grainger, D., Price, D. L., & Renaud, C. (January 01, 2007). Magnetic resonance imaging safety issues including an analysis of recorded incidents within the UK. Progress in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, 51, 1, 37-48. Gilk, T., & American Society for Healthcare Engineering.(2008). Designing and engineering MRI safety.Chicago, Ill: American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association. Hendrick, R. E. (2008). Breast MRI: Fundamentals and technical aspects. New York: Springer. In Kamel, I. R., & In Merkle, E. M. (2011).Body MR imaging at 3 Tesla. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Medical Devices Agency. (1998). MRI static magnetic field safety considerations: The projectile effect caused by the influence of the static magnetic field of magnetic resonance imaging systems. London: Medical Devices Agency. Joyce, K. A. (2008). Magnetic appeal: MRI and the myth of transparency. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Rinck, P. A. (1993). Magnetic resonance in medicine: The basic textbook of the European Magnetic Resonance Forum.Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. Westbrook, C. (2008). Handbook of MRI technique.Oxford, UK: Blackwell Pub. Read More