Testing MR Safety and Compatibility

Magnetic resonance (MR) safety and compatibility are important issues for all medical implants, surgical tools, and electronic or mechatronic equipment to be used within an MR environment. MR testing of medical devices is required for device approval by regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union (EU) Notified Bodies. Different robotic and manipulator systems have been developed for use with MR imaging (MRI). This article provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of MR safety and compatibility issues and updates the discussion on existing MR testing methods with an overview on medical robotic and manipulator devices. These tests will increase the safety of the patient and provide MR operators and device manufacturers with important information and, thus, broaden the field of interventional MRI.