Our most commonly seen devices that are unsafe for MRI are:
Aneurysm clips (unless put in here by Dr. Luzardo or Dr. Buciuc, and a form of device identification is provided)
Cardiac pacemakers
Cochlear implants
Codman devices
Any wire guided devices or tubes that still have wire in place.
Any “unknown” metal (ex: shrapnel, metal fragments)
Vagus nerve stimulators
Extremity prosthetics that cannot be removed.
MRI safe devices (these devices are considered MR compatible but still cause image artifact often limiting the exam):
All orthopedic implants
Dental braces
Spinal rods
Sternal wires and most all post surgical sutures
External fixators (these, however, have heated in select patients and the exam had to be aborted)
Some common MR condtional devices (These are generally considered MR compatible as long as certain steps are followed):
It is recommended that all coils, stents, and filters be in place for 60 days before an MRI scan.
Pain stimulators (these devices must be turned off before MR and reset after)
Baclofen pumps (must be reset by patient’s physician)
Most mechanical implants are MR conditional and should come with an MR compatibility card.
Replacement heart valves.