Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has revolutionised medical diagnostics, providing detailed images of internal structures without the use of ionising radiation. Despite its widespread use, individuals with implantable active devices, such as cardiac pacemakers or neurostimulators, encounter limitations in accessing the full spectrum of MRI scans. This restriction arises from potential safety concerns associated with Radio Frequency (RF) heating, particularly near the electrode tips of these implants, where concentrated energy deposition can lead to excessive temperature rise and, in extreme cases, provoke tissue damage.
The predicament faced by patients necessitates a delicate balance between harnessing the diagnostic power of MRI and mitigating the risks posed by the presence of implantable devices. Consequently, this Research Topic emerges from the imperative to explore innovative solutions to enhance the compatibility of implantable devices with MRI, primarily through the design and evaluation of MRI-compatible implantable antennas.
The primary objective of this collection is to showcase studies that explore antennas with smaller configurations, reduced power consumption, and increased efficiency. The emphasis is on finding solutions that mitigate RF-related hazards, such as heating or voltage issues, in the MRI environment. The collection welcomes studies that test and evaluate antenna safety through both simulation and experimentation. Simulation models are particularly encouraged to offer a closer approximation to real-world scenarios, allowing for more accurate estimations of safety parameters.
Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
Antenna Design and Measurement for Implantable Devices:
• Improve efficiency by reducing power consumption and size.
• Address RF-related hazards to enhance safety.
Compatibility Assessment for Devices with Antennas:
• Propose simulation and experimental procedures that balance time-cost and efficiency.
• Develop AI-powered assessment tools for comprehensive safety evaluation.
Testing Equipment Innovation:
• Design and develop test equipment for safety assessment with lower power consumption and smaller configurations.
• Integrate numerical modeling algorithms and techniques for improved accuracy.
AI-Assisted Safety Evaluation:
• Utilise AI for worst-case prediction of RF-induced heating reduction generated by the antenna.
• Improve antenna design and provide safe guidelines for implantable devices.
This collection seeks to contribute to the field of antennas and propagation by fostering research that not only advances the design and efficiency of MRI-compatible implantable antennas but also ensures their safety within the MRI environment. The exploration of innovative technologies, simulation models, and AI-assisted tools is encouraged to propel the development of safer and more efficient implantable devices for patients with active implants undergoing MRI scans.
Keywords:
Wearable and Implantable Antennas, MRI safety, Radio frequency, ISO 10974, Human model, MRI-compatible implantable antennas
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has revolutionised medical diagnostics, providing detailed images of internal structures without the use of ionising radiation. Despite its widespread use, individuals with implantable active devices, such as cardiac pacemakers or neurostimulators, encounter limitations in accessing the full spectrum of MRI scans. This restriction arises from potential safety concerns associated with Radio Frequency (RF) heating, particularly near the electrode tips of these implants, where concentrated energy deposition can lead to excessive temperature rise and, in extreme cases, provoke tissue damage.
The predicament faced by patients necessitates a delicate balance between harnessing the diagnostic power of MRI and mitigating the risks posed by the presence of implantable devices. Consequently, this Research Topic emerges from the imperative to explore innovative solutions to enhance the compatibility of implantable devices with MRI, primarily through the design and evaluation of MRI-compatible implantable antennas.
The primary objective of this collection is to showcase studies that explore antennas with smaller configurations, reduced power consumption, and increased efficiency. The emphasis is on finding solutions that mitigate RF-related hazards, such as heating or voltage issues, in the MRI environment. The collection welcomes studies that test and evaluate antenna safety through both simulation and experimentation. Simulation models are particularly encouraged to offer a closer approximation to real-world scenarios, allowing for more accurate estimations of safety parameters.
Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
Antenna Design and Measurement for Implantable Devices:
• Improve efficiency by reducing power consumption and size.
• Address RF-related hazards to enhance safety.
Compatibility Assessment for Devices with Antennas:
• Propose simulation and experimental procedures that balance time-cost and efficiency.
• Develop AI-powered assessment tools for comprehensive safety evaluation.
Testing Equipment Innovation:
• Design and develop test equipment for safety assessment with lower power consumption and smaller configurations.
• Integrate numerical modeling algorithms and techniques for improved accuracy.
AI-Assisted Safety Evaluation:
• Utilise AI for worst-case prediction of RF-induced heating reduction generated by the antenna.
• Improve antenna design and provide safe guidelines for implantable devices.
This collection seeks to contribute to the field of antennas and propagation by fostering research that not only advances the design and efficiency of MRI-compatible implantable antennas but also ensures their safety within the MRI environment. The exploration of innovative technologies, simulation models, and AI-assisted tools is encouraged to propel the development of safer and more efficient implantable devices for patients with active implants undergoing MRI scans.
Keywords:
Wearable and Implantable Antennas, MRI safety, Radio frequency, ISO 10974, Human model, MRI-compatible implantable antennas
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.