MRI Safety

Please be sure that the MRI Procedure Screening Form we mailed you is completely filled out and brought to your appointment. The following represents a list of contraindicated and MRI-compatible devices. Please note, this is not a complete list but should serve as a guideline. If you require more information, please check with the MRI staff or visit this informative website: www.mrisafety.com

Contraindicated Objects / Implanted Devices

• cardiac pacemaker
• implanted cardiac defibrillator
• neurostimulator*
• any type of implanted biostimulator
• any type of internal electrode(s), including pacing wires and cochlear implants
• implanted insulin pump
• Swan-Ganz catheter
• any type of electronic, mechanical or magnetic implant
• implanted drug infusion device
• metallic foreign body in the eye (if suspected, please have plain orbit x-rays taken prior to procedure)
• ear implants (some are compatible, check with MRI staff)
• aneurysm clips (some are compatible, please submit operative notes for review by the radiologist)
• shrapnel or bullets (may not be contraindicated, check with MRI staff)

• Pill Cam-Capsule Endoscopy Device

* Performing MRI scans on patients with these devices is possible only if specific guidelines are followed. Information about the device is required before the patient is scheduled.

Compatible Objects or Devices

• surgical clips
• staples  (ideally removed)
• vascular access ports
• intraventricular shunt
• HALO vest
• diaphragm
• IUD
• penile prosthesis (most are compatible, check with MRI staff)
• wire mesh
• pessary
• any implanted orthopedic items (i.e. pins, rods, screws, nails, clips, plates, wires etc)
• heart valve prothesis (most are compatible, check with MRI staff)
• any type of intravascular coil, filter, stent*

*Many of these devices are MRI compatible, but before MRI is done we need to know the type of device implanted and check to see if it has tested in a magnetic field.

PLEASE NOTE: Although, these items are compatible, they can cause severe artefacts (distortions) on the images in the area of the implant.

Objects To Be Removed

• hearing aid
• orbital/eye prosthesis
• any type of implant held in place by a magnet
• artificial limb
• clothing containing metallic snaps or zippers
• hair pins
• wigs
• jewelry
• dentures
• eyeglasses
• credit cards, bank cards and anything else with a magnetic encoding will be erased by the magnet
• metallic objects from your pockets

PLEASE NOTE: Metal objects can become dangerous projectiles if they are taken into the scan room. They can be pulled out of pockets and off the body without warning and fly toward the opening of the magnet at very high speeds, posing a threat to anyone in the room. The more mass an object has, the more dangerous it can be, as the force with which it is attracted to the magnet is much stronger.

PATIENTS' GUIDE FOR MRI TREATMENT

What Can I Expect?

Scheduling Your
First Appointment

Preparing for an
MRI Exam

The Exam | MRI Safety