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RF-induced Heating Estimation of a Stent in a 3T MRI using Transfer Function Approach with a Tabletop E-field
Hongbae Jeong1, Joshua W Guag1, Ananda Kumar1
1Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices Radiological Health, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993 USA.
IEEE Access : Practical Innovations, Open Solutions
|October 3, 2025
Summary
A new tabletop E-field generator streamlines radio frequency (RF) safety assessments for active implantable medical devices (AIMDs). This method significantly reduces the time and cost of validating transfer function (TF) models for RF safety, making assessments more efficient.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electromagnetics
- Medical Device Safety
Background:
- Transfer function (TF) methods offer conservative radio frequency (RF) safety assessments for active implantable medical devices (AIMDs).
- Current in vitro TF model validation is time-consuming, often exceeding eight hours.
- Full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations present significant computational burdens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reduce the time and cost associated with in vitro TF model validation for AIMDs.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of a low-power tabletop E-field generator for TF model validation.
- To compare the accuracy and efficiency of the tabletop generator against conventional methods.
Main Methods:
- Measured the TF of a stent at 128 MHz using piecewise excitation.
- Validated the TF model by exposing the device to diverse test fields using a tabletop E-field generator.
- Compared results obtained with the tabletop generator against those from a body transmit coil.
Main Results:
- The tabletop E-field generator method achieved an equivalent absolute normalized error of (0.37 ± 0.31 dB).
- This is comparable to the conventional body transmit coil method's error of (0.43 ± 0.15 dB).
- The required test time for validation decreased from eight hours to three hours.
Conclusions:
- A low-power tabletop E-field generator provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for in vitro TF model validation.
- This approach reduces experimental safety hazards and eliminates the need for a shielded room.
- The method accelerates RF safety assessments for active implantable devices.
