From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Sun Jun 01 2003 - 10:00:40 MDT
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993771
Nano-coated implants cut MRI scan dangers
10:30 01 June 03
Two years ago, a patient in a British hospital died of heart failure shortly
after being given an MRI brain scan.
Despite being asked several times, he had failed to tell doctors that a heart
pacemaker was implanted in his chest. The scanner's powerful radio waves are
thought to have induced inappropriate voltages in the implant - boosting the
patient's pulse so much his heart failed.
MRI images are invaluable. Their ability to show up different densities of
soft tissue is particularly useful in cancer diagnosis. But the risk of such
accidents means they cannot be used on patients who have implants that contain
any kind of metal. This is becoming a serious problem as more people are fitted
with implants to control various conditions.
But now a US company has come up with a new coating for implants that should
protect such patients from dangerous MRI scanner fields. And there could be
spin-offs for everyone if this paves the way for the routine use of MRI scanners
during surgery - an activity currently prevented by the use of metal surgical
tools
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