In an earlier blog post I raised the issue of the need for professional and academic prerequisites for certification as a MR Safety Expert. The Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM), the professional body responsible for the training, scope of practice, professional conduct, qualifications, and continuing education of medical physicists in Australia and New Zealand, offers an MRSE course and certification scheme. Following a successful pilot in 2020, this online course will run again from September 2023. It will include webinars by Australasian experts ..read more

The 4th edition of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 60601-2-33 Medical electrical equipment – Part 2-33: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of magnetic resonance equipment for medical diagnosis published in 2022 has an updated ‘controlled access area‘. The previous edition defined this area as being enclosed by the 0.5 mT (5 gauss) contour, colloquially known as ‘the 5 gauss line.’ The 0.5 mT limit for public access was based upon the possibility of effecting the function of cardiac pacemakers which utilised magnetically activated ..read more

Why the value of magnetic susceptibility doesn’t really matter The British Institute of Radiology recently published three information sheets on MRI safety. Myths and maths was one of them. In this series I’d like to expand on themes of that sheet. More details can be sourced from my book Essentials of MRI Safety. Myth: the translational force on a ferromagnetic object depends upon its magnetic susceptibility. Maths: for all strongly ferromagnetic objects (iron, steel, nickel, etc.) the value of magnetic susceptibility does not matter. They are all subject to the same amount of force and ..read more

Why we have been wrong about ‘magnetic field strength’ The British Institute of Radiology recently published three information sheets on MRI safety. Myths and maths was one of them. In this series I’d like to expand on themes of that sheet. More details can be sourced from my book Essentials of MRI Safety. Myth: the tesla is the SI unit of magnetic field strength Maths: the tesla is the SI unit of magnetic flux density. Magnetic field strength or intensity is measured in amperes per metre. We have been using the wrong terminology for decades! BIR Information Sheet We’ve all said it: “What ..read more

For those who prefer an app-style tool that works equally well on mobile devices. Try the new Signal, contrast & CNR for spin echo calculator. Rating: 1 out of 5. Page: MAIN 1. Select tissue types from the drop down menus. 2. Vary the TR and TE. Use sliders or enter numerical values. 3. Read the normalised signal intensities, contrast and relative SNR. T1, T2 and M0 (proton density) for each tissue are indicated. Page: GRAPHIC View the normalised signal intensities, contrast and relative SNR in a graph whilst you vary the TR and TE. Note: the value scale adjusts to fit the screen ..read more

The British Institute of Radiology recently published three information sheets on MRI safety. Myths and maths was one of them. In this series I’d like to expand on themes of that sheet. More details can be sourced from my book Essentials of MRI Safety. Myth: the various magnetic fields involved in MRI- the static field (B0), switched gradients and radiofrequency (RF)- are different entities, to be treated differently when considering MR safety. Maths: they are all magnetic fields. They display different spatial characteristics and frequencies, but they are all subject to the same physic ..read more

For those who attended the #ISMRM21 #SMRT21 scientific meeting Masterclass sessions MR Safety: from folklore to physics and wondering what the theme music is – here is Rocket Science in the Rain by Doctor D. It is used as the opening music for the Adelaide Fringe shows SWT_HM_ADL and Sweet Home S.A. The video shows scenes from South Australia. Aerial views courtesy of Google Earth ©google.com. More about Sweet Home SA ..read more

ISMRM-SMRT virtual conference 2021 I’m honoured to be presenting this year’a SMRT Masterclass on MR Safety: from folklore to physics, 16-20 May. I will be exploring the two fundamental interactions that underpin everything in MR safety: magnetisation and induction. Details: https://www.ismrm.org ..read more

Hard to believe that Eden Learning has been going for 10 years! Thanks to all our course educators and delegates. Here’s to the next 10! In 2011 Alliance Medical took the decision to cease the provision of internal training courses for their radiographic staff, which had also been offered to external parties. Denise Newsom, then the national education and development manager, left the Training Department and took the opportunity to further develop the CT and MRI training courses for which Alliance Medical was previously recognised as market leaders. After rebranding, an overhaul of the c ..read more

The following lists a number of corrections to the current published version. Table 2.1: Ferromagnetic M is parallel to external H and B0 M is actually anti-parallel to the internal H, the “demagnetising field”. Figure 2.21: The force at each end is T/l (torque divided by length). The equation stated in the caption is the total twisting forces on the object. Example 2.7: The rotational force here is the sum of twisting forces on the ends of the object. Example 2.8: Similarly 2057 N is the combined twisting forces. Chapter 2 revision question 1: Option A. 1.485 T Example 4.2: T m-1 should ..read more