MRI compatibility of microfabricated magnetic actuators for implantable catheters: Mechanical evaluations

Here we demonstrate the mechanical robustness of microfabricated torsional magnetic actuators in withstanding the magnetic fields produced by a 7 T MRI magnet. The static and dynamic mechanical characteristics of 30 devices were quantitatively measured before and after exposure to both uniform and non-uniform magnetic fields. The results show no statistically significant change in both the static and dynamic mechanical performance, which mitigates concerns about the mechanical compatibility of our devices with MRI scanners. Additional experiments are required to quantify the potential image-artifact size and radio-frequency-induced heating caused by the magnetic microactuators inside an MRI scanner.