Electrode Sensitivity for MRI-RF Induced Heating Evaluation of Active Implantable Medical Device

Magnetic resonance imaging and active implantable medical devices are both powerful tools for neuroscience research and their interaction poses potential safety concerns to patients. Radiofrequency-induced heating is the most pernicious and complex issue. The electrode tip region is the main heating site. Meanwhile, the electrode also affects the electromagnetic model as well as its measurement process of the active implantable medical device. However, the only parameter used to evaluate the electrode influence is the tip impedance. In this study, we analyzed the radiofrequency-induced heating evaluation process and defined the tip scattered field generated when fed by unit voltage excitation as the electrode sensitivity. It helps us determine the energy absorbed by the tip electrode during the electromagnetic model measurement process. Electrode sensitivity provides a new dimension for radiofrequency-induced heating study.