MAGNETIC RESONANCE SCANNER SAFETY GUIDANCE AVAILABLE

ECRI recently published an updated guidance on the safe use of equipment with magnetic resonance (MR) devices.

The document, which is a supplement to a December 2001 guidance article, helps healthcare facilities to understand new device marking terminology issued by the American Society of Testing and Materials International for designating whether equipment is safe for use in the MR environment. Within the MR environment, ferromagnetic objects can become deadly projectiles, device cables can cause patient burns and medical equipment can malfunction.

The document also details MR safety practices recommended by the American College of Radiology, reviews safety issues that hospitals need to be aware of when purchasing more powerful MR systems and includes an updated list of medical device models that are safe to be used in the MR environment. Additionally, the article addresses the selection of fire extinguishers for use in the MR environment.