Challenges in Risk-based EMC for MRI Systems

This paper gives an overview of risk-based EMC for high-field strength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. The challenges when applying this approach are described. First, the unreliability of on-site testing inside hospitals unveils the need to correlate in-situ measurements with measurements performed in an EMC laboratory. For MRI systems, this is particularly challenging due to the undermoded behavior of its electromagnetic environment. Second, state-of-the-art risk analysis techniques oversimplify the complexity of novel and innovative medical equipment. To deal with this complexity, new approaches to risk analysis are required. A promising technique is STPA, which not only considers risk due to component failures, but also due to complex interactions between hardware, software, and human components.