SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOGWhy is MRI shielding necessary in refurbished MRI scanner?
If a person looks for a perfect Magnetic Resonance Imaging for his medical organization, clinic, or hospital, or it is possible that he has already selected it, it is good to consider a few things. One important decision about the unit is the process of selecting and after that installing RS shielding.
This is a great option because it prevents radio frequency waves, some problems with vibration, or noise from entering the MRI.
The mentioned waves could interfere with the operation procedure of the MRI and the result could be the appearance of artifacts in the images or distorted images. It is possible that the signal clutter is caused by things such as television stations, cell phones, steel elevators, subways, traffic to name a few.
The first advice is to hire a person who is the most suitable to perform an inspection and is knowledgeable about MRIs, then comes a professional evaluation of the equipment and room the MRI will be installed before installation. This service person would exactly determine if there is any vibration or some RF problems. If any, he should make necessary service decisions to “shield” the proper room involving the walls, ceilings, floors, and the electrical circuits. It is good to know that one small puncture or eventually open seam can interfere with the quality of the image and result in the damaged image.
What represents an RF shielding and what its purpose is?
One should consider the fact that a shield is a leak-proof box which is an essential part and it encloses the created signals. This unit is made out of soldered copper, non-oxidizing aluminum or galvanized steel. The best materials which are at the same time the cheapest ones are galvanized steel and copper. Copper can cost double and is the primary cost, those persons who are needing to spend a little less can substitute galvanized steel. Another great thing to keep in mind is that using a cooper RF Shields does not cost as much for maintaining over time because it is a proven that the repairs are minimal. It is also good to know that other materials are not utilized because of the drawbacks such as ease of handling or some other modifications, the price, and corrosion.
The main purpose of RF shielding is to block some specific radio waves which may distort the images created by the MRI. These specific radio waves could be different based upon the type of MRI device which is installed. This may serve as an example, the performance which is required of an MRI shield is to accomplish 100 dB or RF signal attenuation at 100 MHz
Another great function of RF shielding is the prevention of electromagnetic radiation that is generated by the MR scanner from provoking an interference with the medical devices found nearby.
All persons who consider this process on their MRI devices must find specialized companies to do this evaluation. They know the best design and building oversight for the new RF-shielded room. The most suitable room is constructed of three components:
- Outer shell made for structural support
- A middle metallic RF-shield
- An interior layer which is made of finish materials
Other important considerations for the process of MRI Shielding
In addition to all mentioned above, there are several other considerations one needs to do for an optimal and at the same time, safe MRI shield process. At first, a person may involve magnetic shielding in order to contain the magnetic field generated by the MRI. This means to prevent it from interference with surrounding areas. Keep in mind that this shielding procedure is not adequate for every system, but it is often overlooked and inspected when making a plan of the shield enclosure design. All persons should think about magnetic shielding as extremely dangerous. When controlled tests are performed, it is necessary to notice the physics and the power level of these types of machines.
One must think well about the fact that MRI shielding, and the RF shield enclosure design is a very critical analyses of well-functioning MRI devices.
Summary
Without a doubt, The MRI scanner are very powerful medical devices, and it is important to remember that they are also quite sensitive. There are cases, an external interference could have a huge influence on the ability of the MRI device to provide qualitative and diagnostically acceptable images. Because of this reason, MRI imaging rooms are in a special need of an effective radio-frequency shield for obtaining optimal MRI performance.
If a person is creating a medical imaging room he would need a plan for the room’s MRI shielding and RF shield enclosure design. But in a case where the person is furnishing an old area with a new MRI device, he should make an analysis of the effectiveness of the shield and if it matches with the new technology.
