MRI Safety
WORLD'S ONLY NON-MAGNETIC IV PUMPS AND VITAL SIGN MONITOR
Don't Guess at Gauss
The value of a Non-Magnetic infusion pump may not be readily apparent until an adverse event occurs. This can be a life changing situation for the patient, staff and the facility. Joint Commission (JCAHO) mandates in ‘Sentinel Event 38’ that only equipment which “has been tested and approved for use during MRI scans”[1] should be used. Using devices beyond their Gauss threshold has the potential to cause injuries, MRI image distortion, inaccurate readings and equipment damage. Next time an acute patient needs a MRI ask yourself these questions:
Are you confident that the devices you use in MRI are built from the ground up specifically for MRI?
Are you confident that you and your staff understand your MRI rooms Gauss field map?
Projectile Hazard Reduction
Conventional patient care equipment and even MRI conditional equipment with a low Gauss rating can be a significant risk in the MRI for your patients, staff, and MRI Scanner. Most clinicians do not know the specific Gauss map in each MRI Magnet room that they practice in. Patient care devices such as Infusion Pumps and MRI Patient Monitors have been known to be attracted to the scanner damaging the equipment and causing harm to patient and staff. IRadimed is the only manufacturer offering non-magnetic MRI patient monitors and infusion pumps.
FURTHER EDUCATION EXAMPLES:
Clinical Accuracy Assurance
Image represents a 3 Tesla MRI system
Patient care devices such as vital sign monitors and infusion pumps utilize pump motors, valves and circuit boards which can alter the readings when exposed to a magnetic field. For example, electric motors used to measure capnography and infuse medications can be inadvertently sped up or slowed down when operated beyond their Gauss condition which can result in inaccurate measurements and failure. The Joint Commission warns that some "programmable infusion pumps may perform erratically" when in the presence of a magnetic field. Do your clinicians know the Gauss conditions of their equipment and where that is in each of your MRI suites? IRadimed is the first and only IV pump and patient monitor company to develop non-magnetic motors giving you piece of mind that the displayed numbers are accurate.
FURTHER EDUCATION EXAMPLES:
MRI Image Quality Assurance
The purpose of scanning a patient is to obtain an MRI diagnosis. Any device or activity that negatively alters the MRI image is unacceptable. MRI image artifact (noise and/or distortion on the image) can be present when patient care devices such as vital sign monitors, accessories or infusion pumps exceed their Gauss conditions. When one of these artifacts present themselves on the MRI image it extends the patient’s time inside the scanner causing a delay of their diagnosis and the MRI schedule. The most common type of MRI image artifacts when patient care devices exceed their Gauss conditions are:
Image Distortion can occur when certain materials are used that can “block” part of the visible MRI image. Just because certain plastics, rubber and metals used with an accessory are non-magnetic does not mean that they are radio-translucent and may cause significant inhomogeneity.
Electronics can cause Radio Frequency Interference on MRI images when the device leaks a RF energy at a particular frequency causing a “zipper” on the image.
When electronics surpass their Gauss condition random noise may be present on the image. The appearance of this type of electronic noise causes the MRI image to be grainy and potentially unusable.
IRadimed products are designed to not cause MRI image artifacts. No other MRI manufacture offers a higher Gauss rating than IRadimed giving your patients and radiology staff ‘MRI Image Assurance’.
FURTHER EDUCATION EXAMPLES:
MRI Burn Reduction
The Joint Commission, ECRI Institute and the FDA have published warnings regarding the potential for 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree burns during MRI procedures. When patient care devices such as MRI monitors are involved in patient thermal injuries it is usually due to the patient being in contact with a sensor or cable that was used beyond its condition for use. IRadimed MRI monitoring accessories and IV infusion lines are designed to drastically reduce the potential for thermal injuries. IRadimed eliminates the potential for conductive cable looping by utilizing fiber optics and integrating wireless with our specifically designed leadwires and electrodes.
FURTHER EDUCATION EXAMPLES:
Up-Time Reliability
The MRI environment is very harsh for complex medical devices like monitors and pumps. The magnetic field and high RF pulses can cause constant stress on the internal components of medical devices, especially the ferromagnetic components such as pumps, motors and valves. When one of these critical components exceeds its Gauss limitation the pump, motor and/ or valve the device could become inoperable during an MRI case. This failure can happen quickly or over a period of time if the ferromagnetic component gets magnetized. IRadimed is the first and only manufacture to utilize non-magnetic pumps and motors providing you and your staff piece of mind.
Improved Clinical Ergonomics
Each patient care device used inside an MRI suite has a specific Gauss limitation that the clinical staff must abide by. As a rule of thumb the lower the Gauss rating, the further away from the MRI bore it must be positioned. This situation compounds when multiple devices with different Gauss limitations are needed to be used on the same MRI case. This Gauss limitation can create a procedure where the standard of care is deviated inside the MRI. For example, an Anesthesiologist will typically have a monitor and infusion pump / anesthesia machine located at the patient’s bedside when practicing in every department except MRI. It is common to have the patient monitor attached to the gas anesthesia machine so the clinicians have all their equipment in the same place for easy correlation. This same example inside the MRI can have very different workflow ergonomics. A Syringe pump rated at 400 Gauss might be placed against the wall away from the patient and the monitor. IRadimed is the only supplier of MRI Patient care devices with high enough Gauss ratings to allow clinicians to have the same standard of care in the MRI that they throughout the hospital.
IRadimed MRI Products
CLICK THE IMAGES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH PRODUCT LINE.
3880 MRI Patient Monitor
FMD Smart MRI Ferrous Metal Detector
Portable MRI IV Infusion Pump
3860+ MRI IV Infusion Pump System