Hazards associated with superconducting magnet quench events: system requirements, application and consequences

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Superconducting magnets in MRI pose risks from magnetically induced forces on ferromagnetic objects.
• Accidental quenches or reluctance to initiate a quench can lead to severe incidents, including injury and death.
• Past adverse events highlight the need for improved awareness of quench phenomena and safety protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the safety aspects of MRI magnet quenches.
• To increase awareness of potential hazards during a quench event.
• To emphasize the importance of preparedness and proper decision-making during MRI emergencies.

Main Methods:

• Review of superconducting magnet attributes relevant to quenches.
• Analysis of quench button functionality and cryogen safety.
• Examination of quench sequence and potential failure mechanisms.
• Inclusion of FDA MAUDE incident reports and device recalls for illustrative examples.

Main Results:

• Quenches involve transitioning superconducting wires to a resistive state to dissipate magnetic fields.
• Potential hazards include physical contact with super-cooled objects, hypoxia, asphyxiation from helium release, and magnet explosions.
• Cryogenless magnet technology offers significant safety advantages.
• Understanding past incidents is crucial for developing improved safety procedures and training.

Conclusions:

• MRI equipment users must recognize when to initiate a quench and understand the consequences of quench failures.
• Preparedness for rare but severe events like gaseous helium release is essential.
• Alternative non-quench solutions may exist for less critical situations.
• Continuous development of safety procedures and training is motivated by prior incidents.