Standardized Approaches to MR Safety Assessment of Patients with Implanted Devices

Three dimensionally mapping the relative spatial distributions and magnitudes of the various energy sources used in the MR imaging process for a given MR scanner potentiates an understanding of the relative spatial distributions of the potential risks associated with each of these energies or fields. By systematically analyzing the data for each energy source relative to the location and type of implants, devices, and/or foreign bodies within a specific patient, one can prospectively assess and even begin to quantify the risks of exposing that patient to selected MR scanner hardware for a requested diagnostic study.