The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetization and demagnetization of magnetic dental attachments in a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. A high-field-strength (3.0 T) MRI scanner (Achieva 3.0 T, Philips, Amsterdam, Netherlands) was used. Magnetic flux leakage was measured using a gaussmeter. To evaluate the magnetization and demagnetization of the magnetic assemblies and keepers caused by the moving in and out of the MRI scanner, the magnetic force of the attachments was measured before and after the table was moved in and out. Two settings were used wherein the magnetic assemblies and keepers were positioned on the table at angles of 0° or 90° with respect to the magnetic flux of the static magnetic field. The movement of the table was repeated 15 times. In addition, the retentive force of the magnetic dental attachments was measured after magnetic field exposure. The magnetic force of the magnetic attachments positioned at 0° decreased significantly after moving in and out of the MRI scanner (p< 0.05). In contrast, the magnetic force of the magnetic attachments positioned at 90° was stable after the movement of the table. The magnetic force of the keepers placed at both 0° and 90° was slightly increased after the movement of the table. At 0°, the retentive force of the magnet-keeper combinations decreased when the magnetic assembly was exposed to the strong magnetic flux of the MRI scanner. Therefore, the removal of all removable magnetic dentures is recommended before an MRI examination.

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement precision and accuracy of T1 mapping using a polarity corrected (PC) TI prep tool, which was based on fast field echo (FFE) and obtained one data point with one inversion recovery (IR) pulse. A phantom was used consisting of eight materials with different Gd concentrations. T1 mappings were measured by changing the trigger interval and the inversion time (TI) interval. The T1 mapping measurement precision using the PC TI prep tool increased as the trigger interval was made longer. The measurement precision didn't depend on the interval of TI. On the other hand, when the trigger intervals are more than 1000 ms, the measurement accuracy was less than approximately 8%. By setting the optimal end of TI, the T1 mapping using a PC TI prep tool could measure the T1 value precisely and accurately.

In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the patients with the cochlear implant, only limited data have a mention for safety information in the instruction manual supplied by the manufacturers. Therefore, imaging operators require more detailed safety information for implant device. We conducted detailed examination about displacement force, torque, and demagnetizing of the cochlear implant magnet based on American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard using the PULSAR and CONCERTO (MED-EL) with 1.5 tesla MRI system. As a result, the displacement force and the torque of the implant magnet were less than the numerical values descried in the manual. Therefore, these have almost no effect on the body under the condition described in a manual. In addition, the demagnetizing factor of the cochlear implant magnet occurred by a change magnetic field. The demagnetization depended on the direction of a line of magnetic force of the static magnetic field and the implant magnet. In conclusion, the operator must warn the position of the patients on inducing in the magnet room.

SummaryA questionnaire comprising 14 items, inquiring about the state of damage, whether safety could be ensured, and progress of repair and restoration was distributed to 984 facilities in seven prefectures on the Pacific coast as part of a fact-finding survey of damage caused to magnetic resonance (MR) devices by the Great East Japan Earthquake. In all, 458 responses (46.6%) were collected. In Miyagi Prefecture alone, 65 responses from 105 questionnaires were collected (response rate: 61.9%). The overall incidence of damage was 19.2%, with 57 facilities (12.4%) reporting that displacement of the magnets was the most common problem. The damage event rate in Miyagi Prefecture was 51.3%, with displacement of the magnet being highest at 17 cases (26.2%). There was a high rate of 13 cases (26.5%) of chiller and air conditioning failures and a rapid loss of He in ten MR scanners (20.4%). Notably, 87.8% of facilities in Miyagi Prefecture (24.5% of the total) were affected by earthquakes exceeding 6 on the Japanese Seismic Intensity Scale. Flood damage caused by the tsunami was also seen along the Sanriku coast to Sendai City (six MR scanners, 50% of the total), and was typical of the damage seen in Miyagi Prefecture.

No abstract