Magnetic resonance imaging compatibility testing of intracranial pressure probes. Technical note

There is increasing recognition that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy may provide important information in the assessment of patients with acute brain injury. However, optimum care of the acutely head injured patient requires monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP). Although many monitoring modalities have been integrated into commercially available MR-compatible systems, there have been no reports of commonly used intraparenchymal ICP sensors in an MR environment. The authors describe the use of an ICP micromanometer probe in an MR environment, with a fiberoptic connection that interfaces the probe with a commercially available MR-compatible monitoring system. Phantom studies were performed to demonstrate the safety and compatibility of the modified MR system at 0.5 tesla. The safety of the device was assessed in relation to its interaction with the static, gradient, and radiofrequency fields used in MR imaging. The MR compatibility was documented by demonstrating that its performance was unaffected by the operation of imaging sequences and by showing that there was no degradation of the diagnostic quality of imaging data obtained during ICP monitoring.

Infusion pump performance in an MR environment

Concerns about life support equipment accompanying the critically ill patient have to date made magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of this patient group the exception. We present here a series of tests performed on an IVAC P3000 infusion pump to investigate its suitability for the magnetic resonance imaging environment. We investigate safety, pump performance and image quality issues. The pump was housed at the end of the patient couch to prevent motion towards the scanner. Gravimetric tests found the pump to work within acceptable parameters at a static field of 10 mT. Image interference issues were addressed.