Predicting Angular Displacement of Medical Devices in a MRI Scanner Bore Using COMSOL Multiphysics

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Medical devices undergo a series of evaluations in order to determine their performance and level of safety in a magnetic resonance (MR) environment. The standard of focus for this work is ASTM F2052-15 which measures the induced displacement of a device due to the spatial gradient fields present in the MRI scanner bore. This test entails suspending the device from a string near the entrance of the MRI bore and measuring the angle of deflection. Evaluating the performance of medical devices in the MR environment is a costly endeavor, both in time and resources. This work aims to develop a predictive model to help eliminate some of the burden associated with this testing. The current method of testing magnetically induced displacement force is by measuring the deflection angle between the device and the test fixture. The displacement force is then computed using this deflection angle. It is expected that this deflection angle can be recreated within the simulation and the forces acting on the device be accurately displayed, and the associated displacement force estimated numerically. This model provides the freedom of manipulating a device and evaluating its performance almost instantaneously. Extensions of this model have the potential to further the detailed numerical evaluation of medical devices in the MR environment. This information could lead to reevaluation of the current ASTM standards surrounding medical devices in the MR environment.%%%%M.S., Biomedical Engineering – Drexel University, 2017