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Published on: August 23, 2011
Effect of 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging on various pressure programmable shunt valves
Takashi Inoue1, Yasutaka Kuzu, Kuniaki Ogasawara
1Department of Neurosurgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan. tainoue@iwate-med.ac.jp
Object:
This study investigated the changes in the valve pressure setting of several magnetic pressure-programmable valves after exposure to a 3-tesla magnetic field.
Methods:
Five each of four types of pressure-programmable shunt valves were tested: Sophy Polaris, Sophy SM8, Codman-Hakim, and Medtronic Strata. First, the valves were advanced toward the 3-tesla static magnetic field. Second, T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images were generated with a radiofrequency magnetic field. Any changes in the pressure setting were observed by visual inspection with a compass or radiography. The pressure settings were changed after exposure to the static magnetic field in all programmable valves except for the Sophy Polaris. All pressure settings studied were unchanged after exposure to both static and radiofrequency magnetic fields (T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted MR imaging) in the Sophy Polaris.
Conclusions:
The Sophy Polaris valve allows shunt-dependent patients who need a programmable valve to undergo 3-tesla MR imaging.
