Boosting the benefits of MRI for people with medical implants

A redesign of the wire at the core of the leads that carry signals between implanted medical devices and target structures significantly reduces the heat generated when standard wires are exposed to radio frequency (RF) energy used in MRI.

The system developed at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, Massachusetts, US is described in a paper published in Scientific Reports.

“Clinical electrical stimulation systems such as pacemakers and deep-brain stimulators are increasingly common therapies for patients with a large range of medical conditions, but a significant limitation of these devices is restricted compatibility with MRI,” said Dr Giorgio Bonmassar of the Martinos Center.

“The tests performed on our prototype deep-brain stimulation lead indicate a threefold reduction in heat generation, compared with a commercially available lead. The use of such leads could significantly expand how many patients may safely access the benefits of MRI.”