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  1. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

MRI Information for Industry

Manufacturers of MRI Scanners

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners are both medical devices and radiation-emitting electronic products subject to the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

  • As medical devices, MRI scanners are subject to the general controls of the Act, such as establishment registration and device listing, premarket notification, maintenance of records and reports, and quality system regulations including good manufacturing practices. The FDA takes a risk-based approach to medical device regulation, and MRI scanners are Class II (moderate risk) medical devices, meaning that an MRI manufacturer is required to submit a 510(k) notification prior to marketing their MRI System.
  • As radiation-emitting electronic products, MRI scanners are subject to the general requirements of the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions of the Act, such as maintenance of records and reports, notification of defects, repurchase, repair, or replacement, and importation.

For additional information, see Overview of Medical Device Regulation.

FDA Guidance Documents Relevant to MRI Scanners

Search for "magnetic resonance" in the FDA guidance documents.

Standards Relevant to MRI Scanners

The following are FDA recognized voluntary consensus standards relevant to MRI scanners.

  • IEC 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
  • EC 62464-1 - Magnetic resonance equipment for medical imaging Part 1: Determination of essential image quality parameters.
  • NEMA MS 1 - Determination of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Images
  • NEMA MS 2 - Determination of Two-dimensional Geometric Distortion in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Images
  • NEMA MS 3 - Determination of Image Uniformity in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Images
  • NEMA MS 4 - Acoustic Noise Measurement Procedure for Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices
  • NEMA MS 5 - Determination of Slice Thickness in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • NEMA MS 6 - Determination of Signal-to-Noise Ratio and Image Uniformity for Single-Channel, Non-Volume Coils in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • NEMA MS 8 - Characterization of the Specific Absorption Rate for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems
  • NEMA MS 9 - Characterization of Phased Array Coils for Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Images
  • NEMA MS 10 - Determination of Local Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems
  • NEMA MS 12 - Quantification and Mapping of Geometric Distortion for Special Applications
  • NEMA MS 14 - Characterization of Radiofrequency (RF) Coil Heating in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems

Manufacturers of Devices Intended to Enter the MR Environment

The MR environment presents unique safety hazards for patients with implanted and accessory medical devices. You should consider all of the following hazards when evaluating the safety of a device that would reasonably be anticipated to enter the MR environment during clinical care, including the:

  • Strong, static magnetic field of the MRI scanner induces displacement forces and torques on magnetic materials that may cause unwanted movement of a device.
  • Radiofrequency energy and magnetic fields that change with time may cause heating of the device and the surrounding tissue.
  • Magnetic fields and radiofrequency energy produced by an MRI scanner may also cause electrically active medical devices to malfunction and may induce voltages in leads or other long conductive portions of the medical device, which can result in a failure of the device to deliver the intended therapy.
  • Presence of the device may degrade the quality of the MR image and may make the MR scan uninformative or may lead to an inaccurate clinical diagnosis, potentially resulting in inappropriate medical treatment.

For additional guidance, please refer to FDA's guidance document, Testing and Labeling Medical Devices for Safety in the Magnetic Resonance (MR) Environment.

FDA Guidance Documents Relevant to MRI Safety

Search for "magnetic resonance" in the FDA guidance documents.

Standards Relevant to MRI Safety

The following are FDA recognized voluntary consensus standards relevant to the safety of medical devices in the MR environment.

  • ASTM F2052 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Magnetically Induced Displacement Force on Medical Devices in the Magnetic Resonance Environment.
  • ASTM F2119 Standard Test Method for Evaluation of MR Image Artifacts from Passive Implants.
  • ASTM F2182 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Measurement of Radio Frequency Induced Heating Near Passive Implants During Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • ASTM F2213 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Magnetically Induced Torque on Medical Devices in the Magnetic Resonance Environment
  • ASTM F2503 Standard Practice for Marking Medical Devices and Other Items for Safety in the Magnetic Resonance Environment
  • ISO TS 10974 Assessment of the safety of magnetic resonance imaging for patients with an active implantable medical device
 
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